Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement

[EvilEyeFleegle]

It used to be said, in this country, that although one would disagree 100% with what a person said, that we, as Americans, would die for their right to say it.
I'm glad to see that spirit still alive, at least in law~

Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement

Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

apnews.com

Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

While many people across the U.S. lost their jobs over social media comments about Kirk’s death, Larry Bushart’s case stood out as a rare instance in which such online speech led to criminal prosecution. The 61-year-old retired police officer spent 37 days behind bars before authorities dropped the felony charge against him in October.

During his time in jail, Bushart lost his postretirement job and missed his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter, according to a federal lawsuit Bushart filed in December against Perry County, its sheriff and the investigator who obtained the arrest warrant.

“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart said in a statement announcing the settlement Wednesday. “The people’s freedom to participate in civil discourse is crucial to a healthy democracy. I am looking forward to moving on and spending time with my family.”

Bushart was arrested in September after he refused to take down Facebook memes that joked about Kirk’s killing, which had prompted an outpouring of grief among conservatives, including in Perry County, which is near Bushart’s home and which held a candlelight vigil.

The meme Bushart posted that prompted his arrest read: “This seems relevant today...” and featured President Donald Trump and the words, “We have to get over it.” That quote, the meme explained, was said by Trump in 2024 after a school shooting at Iowa’s Perry High School.
“It’s in times of turmoil and heightened tensions that our national commitment to free speech is tested the most,” said Cary Davis, an attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which helped represent Bushart. “When government officials fail that test, the Constitution exists to hold them accountable. Our hope is that Larry’s settlement sends a message to law enforcement across the country: Respect the First Amendment today, or be prepared to pay the price tomorrow.”

 

[frigidweirdo]

It used to be said, in this country, that although one would disagree 100% with what a person said, that we, as Americans, would die for their right to say it.
I'm glad to see that spirit still alive, at least in law~

Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement

Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

apnews.com

Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

While many people across the U.S. lost their jobs over social media comments about Kirk’s death, Larry Bushart’s case stood out as a rare instance in which such online speech led to criminal prosecution. The 61-year-old retired police officer spent 37 days behind bars before authorities dropped the felony charge against him in October.

During his time in jail, Bushart lost his postretirement job and missed his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter, according to a federal lawsuit Bushart filed in December against Perry County, its sheriff and the investigator who obtained the arrest warrant.

“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart said in a statement announcing the settlement Wednesday. “The people’s freedom to participate in civil discourse is crucial to a healthy democracy. I am looking forward to moving on and spending time with my family.”

Bushart was arrested in September after he refused to take down Facebook memes that joked about Kirk’s killing, which had prompted an outpouring of grief among conservatives, including in Perry County, which is near Bushart’s home and which held a candlelight vigil.

The meme Bushart posted that prompted his arrest read: “This seems relevant today...” and featured President Donald Trump and the words, “We have to get over it.” That quote, the meme explained, was said by Trump in 2024 after a school shooting at Iowa’s Perry High School.
“It’s in times of turmoil and heightened tensions that our national commitment to free speech is tested the most,” said Cary Davis, an attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which helped represent Bushart. “When government officials fail that test, the Constitution exists to hold them accountable. Our hope is that Larry’s settlement sends a message to law enforcement across the country: Respect the First Amendment today, or be prepared to pay the price tomorrow.”

And it's funny that it was the right who did this. The people who seem to claim that we should be able to say whatever we like, especially things about people's race.

 

[shockedcanadian]

Free speech is critical to liberty.

 

[TNHarley]

Should have received more than that.

 

[ThisIsMe]

And it's funny that it was the right who did this. The people who seem to claim that we should be able to say whatever we like, especially things about people's race.

But you should support his imprisonment, you are advocating for speech laws. This would be an example of how such laws would violate free speech

 

[ThisIsMe]

Should have received more than that.

Why? It’s his right to say the most vile of things.

What I’m more curious about is why Facebook left it up. There was a time where Facebook was censoring conservatives left and right, but something like this, they don’t have a problem with?

 

[JGalt]

And it's funny that it was the right who did this. The people who seem to claim that we should be able to say whatever we like, especially things about people's race.

Saying whatever you want about a person's race isn't generally considered a "threat." Apparently several residents were alarmed by his school shooting post, fearing Bushart was threatening a local school. So they called the police. And like the article says, iInvestigators believe Bushart was fully aware of the fear his post would cause and intentionally sought to create hysteria within the community.

Like they say, "If you see something, say something."

 

[Darkwind]

“If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.”​

― Noam Chomsky

 

[TNHarley]

Why? It’s his right to say the most vile of things.

What I’m more curious about is why Facebook left it up. There was a time where Facebook was censoring conservatives left and right, but something like this, they don’t have a problem with?

I know. Thats why I think he should have got more money for all the shit he went through for exercising his rights.

 

[frigidweirdo]

But you should support his imprisonment, you are advocating for speech laws. This would be an example of how such laws would violate free speech

No, I don't.

That's the problem, you don't understand what I am saying. You're making huge sweeping generalizations for a complex problem. I've explained this before. Do you listen?

 

[22lcidw]

It used to be said, in this country, that although one would disagree 100% with what a person said, that we, as Americans, would die for their right to say it.
I'm glad to see that spirit still alive, at least in law~

Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement

Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

apnews.com

Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

While many people across the U.S. lost their jobs over social media comments about Kirk’s death, Larry Bushart’s case stood out as a rare instance in which such online speech led to criminal prosecution. The 61-year-old retired police officer spent 37 days behind bars before authorities dropped the felony charge against him in October.

During his time in jail, Bushart lost his postretirement job and missed his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter, according to a federal lawsuit Bushart filed in December against Perry County, its sheriff and the investigator who obtained the arrest warrant.

“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart said in a statement announcing the settlement Wednesday. “The people’s freedom to participate in civil discourse is crucial to a healthy democracy. I am looking forward to moving on and spending time with my family.”

Bushart was arrested in September after he refused to take down Facebook memes that joked about Kirk’s killing, which had prompted an outpouring of grief among conservatives, including in Perry County, which is near Bushart’s home and which held a candlelight vigil.

The meme Bushart posted that prompted his arrest read: “This seems relevant today...” and featured President Donald Trump and the words, “We have to get over it.” That quote, the meme explained, was said by Trump in 2024 after a school shooting at Iowa’s Perry High School.
“It’s in times of turmoil and heightened tensions that our national commitment to free speech is tested the most,” said Cary Davis, an attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which helped represent Bushart. “When government officials fail that test, the Constitution exists to hold them accountable. Our hope is that Larry’s settlement sends a message to law enforcement across the country: Respect the First Amendment today, or be prepared to pay the price tomorrow.”

There are people who need to loosen up somewhat in what the definition of terrorism is. Or what anything else that they deem a threat is. That is in conservative or liberal areas. Political views affect the definition of anything we think good or not so good. There are things typed much simpler than that example where people who did it were victimized the local/county governments. The forgiveness for the abuse is difficult as the oppressing agents do not stand up and admit they did wrong. And in event after event this happens, we do not see contrition. This is why eventually we will suffer a brutal dictatorship with no end of oppressors putting a jackboot on the necks of those they deem enemies of the state. Social media and the internet in all ways though is mind boggling as people type like they talk with others of their own views in private circles. And that is not the truth of their ways of reality.

 

[Lockback]

This guy is a loathsome POS but he has a right to say it.
I don't understand how or why he was charged with a felony.



Anyway, justice was done. The freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, particularly the first two of them, must be guarded and never, ever compromised or the Republic is done.

 

[Rambunctious]

Larry Bushart from Perry County is a scumbag...