A Tennessee resident, who found himself behind bars for over a month due to a Facebook meme joking about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, is set to receive $850,000 following a settlement with local authorities.
Larry Bushart, 61, a retired police officer, endured 37 days in jail with a staggering $2 million bond hanging over him until the felony charge was ultimately dropped in October. During his time in custody, Bushart faced significant personal losses, including the termination of his post-retirement job, missing out on his wedding anniversary, and the birth of his granddaughter. He took legal action against Perry County, Sheriff Nick Weems, and the investigator responsible for his arrest warrant, filing a federal lawsuit.
In response to the settlement, Bushart stated, “I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated.” His remarks, shared in a statement on Wednesday, were facilitated by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the organization that provided legal support throughout his case.
Bushart further emphasized the importance of free speech, noting, “The people’s freedom to participate in civil discourse is crucial to a healthy democracy. I am looking forward to moving on and spending time with my family.”
This case echoes a broader conversation about the boundaries of political satire and free expression, as highlighted by a recent legal triumph claimed by the Babylon Bee over the Hawaii government’s stance on political memes and satire in federal court.
BABYLON BEE TOUTS LEGAL WIN OVER HAWAII GOVERNMENT’S ‘WAR AGAINST POLITICAL MEMES AND SATIRE’ IN FEDERAL COURT
Larry Bushart won an $850,000 settlement against officials in Tennessee over his arrest for refusing to take down a Facebook meme making fun of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. (Getty Images; LadyJay Creations LLC)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Perry County Mayor John Carroll for comment.
Bushart was arrested in September, after he refused to remove a Facebook meme that joked about Kirk being killed while speaking to college students in Utah.
The meme that led to his arrest featured an image of President Donald Trump alongside the words, “We have to get over it,” captioned with, “This seems relevant today…” The meme explained that the quote was originally said by Trump in 2024, following a school shooting at Perry High School in Iowa.
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS FACE BACKLASH FOR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS MOCKING CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION
However, the arrest warrant was based on the “absurd notion” that the meme could be interpreted as a threat against Perry County High School in Tennessee, FIRE said.
Furthermore, the organization noted that Bushart did not create or alter the meme.
Weems told news outlets that the meme did not actually lead investigators to believe there was a real threat. However, he stated that the case hinged on how some people could potentially interpret it as a threat to a local school.
Charlie Kirk debates with students during his American Comeback Tour stop at California State University Northridge on March 6, 2025. (Benjamin Hanson/Middle East Images/AFP)
“No one should be hauled off to jail in the dark of night over a harmless meme just because the authorities disagree with its message,” said FIRE senior attorney Adam Steinbaugh. “We’re pleased that Larry has been compensated for this injustice, but local law enforcement never should have forced him to endure this ordeal in the first place.”
FIRE noted that hundreds of Americans have been censored for their online speech following Kirk’s assassination. The group currently represents Monica Weeks, a public servant who was fired by the state for a Facebook post criticizing Kirk shortly after his death.
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