The city brought out generators to power three floodlights to shine on the tower and blur the image from view.

In a statement released late Wednesday, Hanson City Administrator Lisa Green said the city suspended its political image blocking measures earlier in the day, but reinstated the measures when the latest projections emerged.

“Earlier today, the City of Hanson suspended measures in place to block the projection of a political image on a city-owned water tower,” Green said in the statement. “Unfortunately, the party involved in projecting the image resumed the project today and as a result we had to take action again to block the projected image.”

Green reiterated that the city does not endorse political candidates, parties or platforms in any election, and its charter prohibits the display of political symbols or signs on government property.

“The city has a duty to enforce these regulations and is committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to prevent future violations,” Green said in the statement.

“At this time, the city will continue its efforts to try to fade the floodlight image and fine the resident each day the image continues to be projected onto city property,” the spokesperson said via email. “There are currently no further updates at this time.”

The red “Punisher” image, a skull with four long front teeth, is from a Marvel comic book anti-hero obsessed with revenge. The logo has become a favorite image among soldiers and law enforcement, white nationalists and January 6 insurgents, Chicago Tribune he reported.

Green said the city “respects the free speech rights of all residents,” but said residents cannot promote their political views on city property or “in a way that makes it appear that the city of Hanson is endorsing any political candidate “.

Tonya Alanez can be reached at [email protected]. Follow a @talanez.