Yeah, this is definitely poetic justice….
The city of Gainesville, Florida, plans to send a bill estimated at more than $180,000 to Pastor Terry Jones for security costs surrounding his controversial threat to burn Qurans on the anniversary of the September, 11, 2001, attacks, a police spokeswoman said Friday.
Police agencies spent more than a month working on security plans to ensure the community surrounding Jones’ Dove World Outreach Center — the planned site of the burning — was safe, according to Gainesville police spokeswoman Cpl. Tscharna Senn.
Jones also told authorities he received numerous death threats because of the planned protest, which he called off amid increasing pressure from world leaders.
The Gainesville Police Department said it spent more than $100,000 while the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office spent an estimated $80,000 during the weekend of the planned demonstration.
The guy’s a yahoo but I question the constitutionality of charging him. Effectively the goverenment could silence free speech by sending people bills “for security.”
Sometimes the most contraversial speech is also the most profound. Consider what the implications would have been if MLK would have been billed for at the onset of his career. His “I have a Dream” speech would have been unaffordable.
If there is a special need for security, it is reasonable to expect organizers who expect extra security to pay for it. If the cops talk to an organizer and the organizer denies a need for added security, then don’t provide it.
I agree. The guy is clearly nuts but this is wrong. He has every right to burn those Qurans just as I think anyone should be allowed to burn flags (they can burn a symbol but they can’t burn the idea, and trampling free speech to protect a symbol is disgusting).
I support freedom of speech, period.
Sadly, he’ll probably come out ahead when the nation’s haters each send him 25 bucks.
I agree with Super Id. How funny would it be if Code Pink was charged for all its protests? If the Revs. Al and Jesse were charged for some march they led? If AFSCME were charged “security” costs associated with a rally, march or protest?