Henry Contreras, commonly known as “Chalk Guy,” is disputing charges of over $11,000 in fines for violating the city of Walla Walla’s chalk use ordinance, which came into effect on February 12, 2025, after passing unanimously. Contreras is known locally for his chalk messages, which he often writes on Main Street and occasionally on Whitman’s campus. 

Contreras is fighting charges for writing political messages on the pavement, a case that has sparked conversation across the community about free speech, accountability and fairness. 

In February, the City unanimously passed Ordinance 2025-01 surrounding all chalk messages in the downtown area, controlling how long chalk can stay on the sidewalk before it must be erased. The ordinance details how all chalk messages on public sidewalks, regardless of political messaging, must be erased by the end of the day they were drawn.

Finch Christ, a student at Walla Walla University, reflects on the harm caused by these chalked messages.

“[T]he city should try to protect free expression while also maintaining respect for public spaces. Individuals should be allowed to share their views, but there must be boundaries when that expression becomes harmful, disruptive or damaging to community property,” Christ said. “Establishing designated areas for artistic or expressive work, along with clear guidelines, could help maintain that balance.”

Christ also notes that responding to Chalk Guy requires careful consideration to public spaces, as his messages affect people going about their daily lives. Christ raised concerns about the most reasonable next steps to managing Contreras’ political messages should be in this situation.

“In my opinion, this behavior constitutes a form of hate speech, comparable to shouting ‘fire’ in a crowded building because of the potential harm it causes,” Christ said. “While I am not certain that criminal charges are appropriate, I believe mandatory community service or counseling could be a more constructive response.”

To others, Contreras’ chalk messages are an expression of his beliefs: temporary, harmless and protected by the First Amendment. Debbie Tiner, a Walla Walla resident who has followed the case and shared her thoughts on social media, views Contreras’ chalk messages as relatively tame and a way to exercise his rights. 

“I think he is being targeted because of his beliefs,” said Tiner. “He should have the right to express himself and his beliefs, I have seen what he writes, it’s not vulgar [and] it’s mostly true.”

Tiner believes Henry’s messages don’t cause damage and should not be treated as a crime. 

“He is not destroying any property, [after] the first rain it’s gone, or people follow him and pour water on it and get very rude to him. It’s very sad. I think the people that [are] harassing him need to be charged,” Tiner said.

Other Walla Walla residents view the ordinance and fines as a responsibility to care for public spaces and support a variety of political beliefs in the Walla Walla area.

Retired Whitman Professor of Sociology, William Bogard, who lives in Walla Walla, addressed these complexities.

“Basically, I think Henry certainly has a right to free speech, but any right involves accountabilities for what is said,” Bogard said. 

Bogard said the city’s policy requiring sidewalk messages to be removed at the end of the day is reasonable, especially given the content of some of Henry’s chalk writings, which often include comments ranging from claims about the medical effects of 5G to anti-trans and pro-life commentary.

“The city made what I think is a reasonable rule, that political messages, Henry’s sometimes [being] pretty offensive to certain groups in the community, have to be removed at the end of the day, which Henry did not follow,” Bogard said.

Bogard also worries about what it would mean if the city council ordinance is not equally enforced on both sides of the political spectrum. 

“My deeper concern is that persons who support Henry’s right to offensive and sometimes cruel speech would be intolerant of counter-messages chalked on community sidewalks, for example, pro-LGBTQ+, pro-Palestinian, pro-abortion, anti-fascist [messages]… If Henry is permitted to leave his messages outside hospitals, schools, clinics, businesses, churches etc., so should others having opposing messages, even if offensive,” Bogard said.

Bogard said the debate reflects larger national tensions. 

“Unfortunately, the issue has become embroiled in today’s vitriolic politics. The city is in a hard position trying to balance speech and offensive political messaging, but mostly I think it is acting reasonably by requiring the messages to be washed off the sidewalks at the end of the day,” Bogard said.

There will be a hearing in Walla Walla District Court at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12. In the meantime, the case continues to draw strong opinions across Walla Walla.