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 ...
Lock him up!@*#
‘I believe this man really believes in what he does and is not a goal of his to incite violence or take advantage of the Constitution.’
The Constitution does not belong to Jones, it belongs to us. We are protected by the Constitution whether we wish to take advantage of it or not.
Or, they’ll run rampant, looting, burning, killing, bombing, committing all manner of acts of terror and mayhem.......which will lead to the citizenry demanding the government suppress them with extreme prejudice. Likewise, the citizenry will be forced by tradition and conscience to assist by any means necessary the suppression of the rampaging hordes, with additional extreme prejudice.
A win-win situation!
“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.”
If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains set lightly upon you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.
Samuel Adams
‘this attempt to incite a riot was forestalled in the area that was attempted to be exploited’
If anyone wants to riot over what someone says, send in the army and SHOOT all the rioters.
It wasn't the pastor threatening violence. His is merely an act of free speech.
It's the Muslims threatening violence.
Makes as much sense as jailing a black guy for walking down the street because of the threats of violence from the KKK.
My thought exactly...”Cafeteria Enforcement”: Pick the ones you like and agree with and go after those that disagree with you.
Is ANYONE really shocked by this? I’m guessing there was a phone call from Holder to start this.
IMHO: Jones is a jerk who is looking for publicity, now they make him a martyr too, however, The Westboro Loons are defaming heroes and hurting their families and then suing those who get frustrated and start to give them the butt-kicking they need...welcome to Bizarro World...
I hope the police become consistent and start locking up gays who protest churches that preach against sodomy. Those crowds are full of angry violent gays as the fac they have given police protection to those Christians going into those churches.
I hope the police are consistent and start arresting muslims who parade around this country with signs about 9-11 and more violence occurring to America, and jihad in America.
Won’t hold my breath that the hypocrites will.
Ironic, eh.....it seems the Dearborn head cop and the prosecutor must be soulmates with the Red Chinese, Bashir Assad and Hugo Chavez.
What is it with these people and their “Free speech for me; not for thee” attitudes?
Doesn’t seem at all to be an American idealism.
Maybe teh judge and the police need to focus on the ‘peaceful’ people that they believe are going to get angry and be ready to clamp down on them.
If this were still America, he would have thousands out there protesting with him as a free speech protest, but of course that America died eons ago.
It was the 101st Airborne.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Because the area of Skokie could be protected (and the citizens that lived there) in case there were problems.
This is the difference, thank you.
It would be nice if all the mental giants on FR could see the bigger picture, as in the smaller details of what this story is really about.
The feds are supposed to protect us right? But during the last 100 years they can’t build a damned fence on the southern border to protect us from an invasion.
You see? This argument is NOT about some asshole’s right to free speech, it’s about not getting your house burned down because your township/county/city whatever says “let’s have a demonstration” on your cul de sac.
And there is no fire hydrant.
Oh wow...they had a race problem in Little Rock, Alaska, too? That's weird...I didn't know there was a Little Rock in Alaska. Little Rock, AR...sure. But AK? /smartass comment
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
I am from the Detroit area and am very familiar with Dearborn. East Deaborn is a third world pit. West Dearborn is decent.
This is the second time within a year that Dearborn has deprived U.S. citizens of their First Amendment rights to placate the Muslim community. The government has established Muslims as a “protected class.” They have no problem with offending Christians and even using NEA funding to do so.
While I am not wild about the pastor burning the Koran, there would have been no government intervention if an imam were burning a Bible (and I realize the outcome would be different).
I don't want the City of Dearborn, a kangaroo court or you deciding when the First Amendment rights mean something and when they don't.
I loathe flagburners, but obviously the courts have ruled it is protected speech. I really don't view burning a Koran or a Bible any differently.
Obviously you view the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as situational - they are to be applied only when you agree with them. I don't.
Actually if we wanted to be cheap we could scan a cover of a Koran, print it and glue it to an old paperback novel.
Light em on fire. Shotgun targets. Flamethrower bait. M80 accident. Pig slop yard debris. Bacon holders.
“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.”
So that’s the new way...if it involves peace and security to hell with the First Amendment? What was it someone said about giving up freedom for peace and safety?
And you calling him nasty names and curse words is not provocative?
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