Hitting the “Like” button on Facebook is an element of free speech protected by the US constitution, The US Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, ruled yesterday

Virginia case involving six people who say Hampton Sheriff B.J. Roberts fired them for supporting an opponent in his 2009 re-election bid, which he won.

The workers sued, saying their First Amendment rights were violated.

The court ruled that hitting the like button qualifies as speech and can be considered the 21st century-equivalent of a campaign yard sign.

The Constitution doesn’t distinguish between ‘liking’ a candidate on Facebook and supporting him in a town meeting or public rally.”

The ACLU brief said “liking” something on Facebook “expresses a clear message — one recognized by millions of Facebook users and non-Facebook users — and is both pure speech and symbolic expression that warrants constitutional protection.”