Tennessee Man Receives $850,000 Settlement for Meme-Related Arrest

Larry Bushart, a 61-year-old retired police officer from Tennessee, was awarded $850,000 in a settlement following his arrest over a Facebook meme. Bushart spent 37 days in jail before charges were dropped. The arrest stemmed from a meme joking about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Bushart’s legal battle involved a suit against Perry County and its officials, including Sheriff Nick Weems. His incarceration resulted in the loss of a post-retirement job and caused him to miss significant family events like his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter.

In a statement shared by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Bushart expressed satisfaction at the vindication of his First Amendment rights. He emphasized the importance of free speech in maintaining a democratic society.

The meme in controversy included an image of President Donald Trump and a quote connected to a school shooting, captioned as significant in today’s context. Although the warrant suggested potential threats to Perry County High School, FIRE clarified that Bushart was neither the creator nor the editor of the meme.

Sheriff Weems acknowledged that there was no belief in a genuine threat from the meme, focusing instead on public interpretation. FIRE attorney Adam Steinbaugh criticized the arrest, underscoring the issue of censorship and unjust detainment sparked by disagreements with the meme’s message.

FIRE has drawn attention to broader trends where many Americans have faced censorship related to the discourse surrounding Charlie Kirk’s assassination. One such case involves Monica Weeks, dismissed for her critical remarks about Kirk online.