Woman seeks to keep middle finger light display

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Louisiana woman wants a judge to let her keep on displaying her roof-mounted holiday lights that give an extended middle finger to her neighbors.

U.S. District Judge James Brady was hearing testimony Monday about whether Sarah Childs should be granted a preliminary injunction barring the city of Denham Springs and police from requiring her to remove the display.

Childs says she put up the roof message in November because she believed a neighbor stole her dog. She says police threatened her with fines and arrest because of the lights. She and the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana sued the city and police.

Lawyers for Denham Springs and police say officials didn't threaten Childs. They also argue the display isn't protected speech under the constitution.