Larry Bushart, a 61-year-old former police officer from Tennessee, received an $850,000 settlement after spending over a month in jail. His arrest stemmed from refusing to remove a Facebook meme that mocked the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Authorities initially charged him with a felony, leading to his incarceration for 37 days under a $2 million bond. The charges were eventually dropped in October.
During his time in jail, Bushart lost his post-retirement job and missed significant family events such as his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter. Following his release, he filed a federal lawsuit against Perry County, Sheriff Nick Weems, and the investigator responsible for his arrest.
I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,Bushart stated upon announcing the settlement. This statement came from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which supported him in the legal proceedings. He emphasized the importance of freedom in civil discourse and expressed eagerness to focus on spending time with his family.
The meme that led to Bushart’s arrest was a satirical image of President Donald Trump. It was accompanied by a caption referencing Kirk’s assassination while he was speaking to students in Utah. Authorities claimed the meme suggested a threat to Perry County High School in Tennessee, though Bushart’s legal team argued this interpretation was unreasonable.
Sheriff Weems acknowledged that the meme did not pose a genuine threat. Instead, concerns centered around potential misinterpretation by others. Despite this, FIRE attorney Adam Steinbaugh criticized the arrest as an unjust action taken because of disagreement with the meme’s message. He voiced satisfaction with the settlement but argued Bushart should not have faced such an ordeal.
FIRE continues to advocate for Americans censored over online speech related to Kirk’s assassination. One ongoing case involves Monica Weeks, dismissed from her public service position in response to a Facebook post criticizing Kirk.