Posted on 06/05/2013 3:54:48 AM PDT by Kaslin
A U.S. attorney in Tennessee said that it's possible that some inflammatory criticism of Muslims posted on social networking sites could violate federal civil rights laws.
We need to educate people about Muslims and their civil rights, and as long as were here, theyre going to be protected, U.S. attorney Bill Killian told the Tullahoma News last week. This is also to inform the public about what federal laws are in effect and what the consequences are.
Killian, along with an FBI agent, are expected to attend a meeting Tuesday in Manchester, Tenn. hosted by a local Muslim group to educate people on the First Amendment and its application in society.
His comments sparked concern among conservative groups that the federal government is about to crack down on anti-Muslim rhetoric -- a claim the U.S. attorney denies.
It has nothing to do with Sharia law, Killian told me in a telephone interview. It has to do with the United States Constitution and federal statutes. You have a right under the First Amendment to hate Muslims. You can hate all Muslims if you want to."
But he added a caveat -- "as long as it does not rise to the level of violating federal civil rights laws.
The meeting comes after a Tennessee lawmaker posted a photograph of a man aiming a shotgun with the caption, How to wink at a Muslim.
Its an open forum to discuss the First Amendment -- to discuss its application to all religions and to Muslim religions, he said. And to discuss federal civil rights statutes which weve done at other times and other places.
Killian said the federal government has participated in at least a dozen similar Muslim education meetings across the state.
But Andy Miller, of the Tennessee Freedom Coalition, believes the federal government is using those meetings to silence and intimidate critics of Islam.
Theres an effort to step on free speech -- any speech thats contrary to Islam, Miller tells me. It seems like our federal government is going down that path.
Miller said Tennessee has become a battleground over what he called a crackdown on anti-Muslim speech.
This is the Bible Belt, he said. Theres an effort to prove that if they can do it here, they can do it anywhere.
Killian said the supposition that the federal government would prosecute people for exercising their constitutional rights is ridiculous.
We dont prosecute people for the First Amendment, he said. In fact, this event is promoting the First Amendment for all people -- not only to exercise their religion, but to express their freedom of speech regardless of what it is.
But the big question is where free speech might cross the line and violate federal civil rights laws.
Could an Internet posting or letter in the mail or a phone call or a personal confrontation constitute a violation of those statutes, he asked, citing 18 US Code 241 and 18 US Code 245. Yes, it could.
So what about the lawmaker who posted the photograph of the shotgun? Would that be a violation of federal law?
I dont know whether it does or not, Killian said. Were treating that as if it were offensive conduct and trying to use this event as we have on many other occasions in the district -- utilize events of this nature to have people understand the Muslim religion and the Arab and Muslim people.
Miller said the governments explanation is problematic.
It doesnt make anybody here locally feel any better, he said. It seems as though they are creating a sacred group here that consistently gets attention from the federal government.
Its interesting the Department of Justice and Homeland Security really seem to take up the banner for the Muslim population, Miller said. Why arent they having one for the Baptists? Why arent they having one for the Methodists? Why arent they having one for Jews?
And Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, believes the Obama administration is using federal law to protect Muslims from criticism, Politico reports.
In its latest effort to protect followers of Islam in the U.S., the Obama Justice Department warns against using social media to spread information considered inflammatory against Muslims, threatening that it could constitute a violation of civil rights, the group wrote online.
and Eff all the rest
Muslims are using our own Civil rights laws against us.
When they establish their Sharia laws , there will be no more Civil Rights.
The greatest Civil Rights Muslims have is the right to go back to where the hell they came from. I advise them to use that right.
Sorry but I am not bowing down because of your Muslim love fest. Muslims suck and they are not going to take over this country because of payoffs from the Saudis.
Neither will I
You said it
I think nearly everyone on FR feels that Muslims have a right to worship PEACEFULLY, but not to try to convert, kill, or maim Christians in the name of their PEACEFUL (not) religion. Unfortunately our current adminstration feels a little (or not so little) colateral damage of Christians is acceptable.
So, spreading religious understanding of Islam (and only Islam, apparently) is now a primary responsibility of federal prosecutors? Maybe there will soon be reports from the meeting to have taken place last night, and maybe we'll get something other than more mealy mouthing from this prosecutor with too much time on his hands.
So they’re also going to go after all the muslims who call for beheading anyone who isn’t a muslim, right? Right? I mean, everyone’s equal under the law, right?
No?
Then the law is no longer legitimate.
and anti-Christian speech will be rewarded??
Meh. I don’t talk about Muslims. They are just people.
I talk about Islam. And thanks to the first ammendment, I am unfettered.
They use words like "could" and "may" so they cannot be quoted as having anti-American sentiments, but they are enemies, nonetheless.
If they can get some public momentum going, they'll push harder and get some kind of law on the books ... the whole purpose being to destroy 1st Ammendment rights and help usher in an enemy faction.
There are no muzzies in my redneck community, but if one tried to move in, he'd not be able to keep up with the flat tires, broken windows and et cetera's.
I was there
It was an indoctrination...
Tennessee is ground zero right now for an attempt at Sharia law...
Everyone yelled at this Dhimmi to resign...
With this DOJ? You betcha
Mohammed was a pedophile and his followers are demon-worshippers. Prosecute me, you dhimmified son of a whore.
And if he doesn’t then he needs to be recalled
Our country is not America anymore, it is no longer a free country.
The question is which government agency is the democrat Obama not using to rig elections, target political enemies, or take away our freedoms?
LLS
Calling this SOB a traitor is mild.
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