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| -Land of the Free |
| Flipping the bird in church is protected speech |
| 2017-10-03 |
[MACON] Georgia's highest court has reversed the conviction of a man who was tossed in the slammerKeep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! on a disorderly conduct charge after he held up his middle finger and shouted at his pastor during a service. The unanimous opinion issued Monday says David Justin Freeman's behavior amounts to speech protected by the First Amendment. But heaving him off the front steps isn't? Pastor Jason Berry of 12Stone Church in Flowery Branch, 45 miles (72.42 kilometers) northeast of metro Atlanta, asked teachers to stand for recognition during a service in August 2014. The court's opinion says Freeman, a homeschooling father, stood and raised his middle finger in the air and then began yelling after the pastor finished his prayer. A sheriff's deputy arrived and Freeman was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Berry testified at trial that Freeman's actions made him scared for his and his congregation's safety. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Well, you do have the freedom to be an asshole. The church also has the freedom to ask you to leave and if you don't it is then trespassing. And they don't forgive that trespass.... |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2017-10-03 07:37 |
| #1 They should have given him his beat down inside 'because those sitting near him feared for their safety'. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2017-10-03 01:07 |