Terry Jones sues Dearborn, accuses of violating free speech
Source: Detroit Free Press
Terry Jones sues Dearborn, accuses of violating free speech
7:22 PM, April 2, 2012
By Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer
Quran-burning pastor Terry Jones filed a lawsuit today against Dearborn, alleging the city is violating his constitutional right to free speech by asking him to sign a legal agreement ahead of a rally hes planned for this Saturday outside of a Dearborn mosque.
The lawsuit was filed in Detroit by the Thomas More Law Center, a conservative Christian group based in Ann Arbor. The civil suit says that the city of Dearborn wants Jones to sign a hold harmless agreement before a planned rally outside the Islamic Center of America. The agreement would require the Christian pastor from Florida to forfeit all legal rights stemming from anything that might happen at the rally, the lawsuit said.
Signing such an agreement would require Jones to purchase insurance, which would be too expensive for him and thus violate his constitutional right to free speech, the suit said. A Dearborn police officer sent Jones assistant a letter last week saying that unless Jones and his group sign the hold harmless agreement, he cannot speak outside the Islamic Center.
The city of Dearborn did not immediately comment Monday on the lawsuit. In the past, the city has required others to sign hold harmless agreements for public events.
Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20120402/NEWS02/120402077/Terry-Jones-sues-Dearborn-accuses-of-violating-free-speech-Quran-Islam?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
The Thomas More Law Center is a fully-funded creation of Tom Monaghan.
Yup, THAT Tom Monaghan!
truthisfreedom
(23,149 posts)Conflict-creating with absolutely no hope of accomplishing anything positive, other than burn a few calories standing around making everyone else stressed-out and angry.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)Then either sign it or go elsewhere.
Easy peasy.
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)He only going there to stir the shit pot. If he wants to stir that pot, he should be willing to accept responsibility for what he causes to happen if that pot boils over.
guitar man
(15,996 posts)to take the fall for this asshole shouting fire in a crowded theatre
Festivito
(13,452 posts)Either way, the instigator wins.
The real problem is that after all these years we don't have decent ways for people discuss issues in open forums.
Ruby the Liberal
(26,219 posts)It says the individual can't sue if things go south, or "holds the city harmless" for things out of their sphere of control.
In addition, it may even say that "you are on your own" without police protection provided. Depending on how it is worded.
Grassy Knoll
(10,118 posts)baldguy
(36,649 posts)It does not say he has a right to avoid responsibility for the effects of that speech.
OrwellwasRight
(5,170 posts)That would have been more fun.
auburngrad82
(5,029 posts)If he can't afford insurance and the city isn't going to cover him then he's on his own.