Posted on 04/23/2011 8:10:58 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
The US pastor whose burning of a Koran sparked deadly violence in Afghanistan was briefly jailed in a heavily Islamic suburb on Friday after a court banned his protest outside a mosque.
A local judge jailed Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Florida and his associate Wayne Sapp after a court found their planned protest outside the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, could lead to violence.
During his court appearance, Pastor Jones argued that the Koran "promotes terrorist activities around the world."
He also insisted that his right to protest against Islam was protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
"The First Amendment does us no good if it confines us to saying what is popular," he pointed out.
But Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad testified that his department had received information about serious threats made against Pastor Jones from local residents, and argued that his protest could lead to violence if allowed.
Prosecutor Robert Moran argued that the protest had nothing to do with the First Amendment and at stake were security and peace in the community.
The jury sided with the prosecution and Judge Mark Somers set bond at the symbolic amount of $1 each for the two pastors, which they initially refused to pay.
Following their refusal, both were escorted to a local jail. But local media reported both men changed their minds after spending about an hour behind bars and posted the $1 bond.
Under the judge's ruling, both Pastor Jones and Mr Sapp are now prohibited by the court from going to the mosque for three years.
But Pastor Jones was quoted by The Detroit Free Press as saying the two "will come back next week" to try to organise a new protest.
Pastor Jones and Mr Sapp
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
All those same arguments were used against the Nazis who wished to march in Skokie, IL. The USSC ruled that the Nazis did indeed have the right to march in the largely Jewish town. Freedom of speech protects even abhorrent speech or it protects no speech at all.
Actually, the new quote goes: “I am afraid of the loony muzzies, so I’ll acquiesce and kowtow to their demands to keep some semblance of peace and tranquility. Damn my descendants and their freedoms, just so I can feel good about my own sorry carcass.”
I align myself with the US Constitution, not with the stupid pastor.
Ok, now he’s just being an attention whore.
‘And if you review the koran burning threads, you will find that more that a few on this forum are rejoicing at where he is.’
His methods are imprudent, and it is clear that you don’t lose your civil rights for being imprudent. This is so clearcut that I expect the ACLU, which defended the Nazis in the Skokie case, to take up the case.
I live here.
If you want this jackass to burn korans on your street then invite him on your front lawn, have all the other protesters park on your lawn since there is no place to park, and then have at it.
You think you know free speech and all that, this is akin to screaming fire in a crowded theater, no more complicated than that.
You speak of something you no nothing about.
You do know you can’t smoke at a gas station, right? Do some research and understand why the this attempt to incite a riot was forestalled in the area that was attempted to be exploited, it will all make sense to you then.
I was just wondering where a feller would go to get some of those things.
People act in ways to provoke Christians all the time, yet they know Christians won’t riot.
Why are the muzzies held to a different standard?
Not anymore, I suppose.
Arsehole prosecutor
be great if a bunch of people burned a koran outside the courthouse
You have the Constitutional Right to be an attention whore.
>> Prosecutor Robert Moran argued that the protest had nothing to do with the First Amendment and at stake were security and peace in the community.
A jackass no doubt. Since when does the threat of Sharia preclude that granted by the Constitution?
Am glad to see you admit the *pastor* is stupid.
But don’t hand me this Constitution BS, go try to build a house on a six-lane road and see what happens.
Look into the details - a quickie jury trial even said no.
When I wear my T-shirt that I had made, saying “Crusade Against the Mohammedan Death Cult” I do it to make a statement against Satanic evil, and for America, Christianity, Western Civilization, and for humanity in general.
Silly Pastor.
You thought we had a Constitution.
Well we have one, we just do not have leaders that follow it anymore......
As somebody pointed out, why were the Nazis allowed to march through Skokie?
I did my research and I remember Senator Lindsey Graham told Face the Nation this morning that Congress might need to explore the need to limit some forms of freedom of speech.
and he was NOT referring to an "attempt to incite a riot was forestalled in the area" but in a village on the other side of the world.
Looks like we have quite a few "Americans" who don't give a damn about the Constitution, either.
Sort of evens it out, eh.
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