A Massachusetts judge dismissed criminal charges on Monday against Richard Schiffer Jr., a supporter of Karen Read, who scattered rubber ducks and fake $100 bills around Canton in a protest supporting Read’s defense. Schiffer had faced felony witness intimidation and criminal harassment charges, but the court ruled his actions were protected under the First Amendment.
Rubber Ducks, Fake Money, and a Polarizing Murder Case
Schiffer, an outspoken advocate for Read’s innocence, placed the yellow rubber ducks and faux $100 bills in public locations, including near the home of John O’Keefe, the Boston police officer Read is accused of killing. His protest was inspired by Read’s defense lawyer Alan Jackson, who likened the case against her to the saying, “If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s a duck.”
Judge Brian Walsh ruled that Schiffer’s actions, while “sophomoric,” constituted protected political speech.
Protected by the First Amendment
“This was political speech,” said Schiffer’s attorney, Timothy Bradl. “Hats off to the judge. He didn’t make everyone wait and ruled from the bench.” Judge Walsh emphasized that Schiffer’s actions did not meet the criteria for witness intimidation or harassment, writing that the use of rubber ducks and fake currency fell well within the protections of free speech.
Karen Read’s Defense and Retrial Delays
Karen Read is accused of fatally striking O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm. Her attorneys claim she has been framed and allege that O’Keefe was killed inside the home of Boston police officer Brian Albert before being dragged outside. The defense has pointed to a potential cover-up involving law enforcement to shift blame onto Read.
After a mistrial in July, Read’s retrial has been postponed to April, prolonging the high-profile legal battle.
Polarizing Opinions Divide the Town
The case has divided the community of Canton, Massachusetts. Schiffer, a local contractor, has been a vocal critic of state and local law enforcement, accusing them of a cover-up. His rubber duck protest targeted locations linked to individuals implicated in the defense’s theory, including a pizza shop owned by the brother of Brian Albert, whose home figures prominently in the defense’s narrative.
Supporters of Read, like Schiffer, have clashed with residents who believe in her guilt, creating ongoing tensions in the town.
Judge’s Literary Closing
In his two-page ruling, Judge Walsh quoted Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley, thought to have coined the “walks like a duck” adage, and Robert McCloskey, author of the children’s classic Make Way for Ducklings. “Though a rather sophomoric expression of his opinion, [Schiffer’s conduct] is nonetheless protected speech,” Walsh wrote.
