NJ Transit worker fired for burning Quran near Ground Zero will get his job back

[The Northerner]

TRENTON — The New Jersey Transit employee fired for burning pages of the Quran at the site of a proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero will get his job back, according to a settlement obtained by The Star-Ledger.

Derek Fenton, who sparked a national firestorm and condemnation from Gov. Chris Christie during his protest on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, will be reassigned to his $86,110-a-year job and get $25,000 for pain and suffering. The settlement, dated today, also says he will get back pay equal to $331.20 for every day since his firing.

The state will also pay $25,000 in legal fees to the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the suit on behalf of Fenton, 40, of Bloomingdale.

"Our government cannot pick and choose whose free speech rights are protected, based on whether or not they approve of the content of our statements or actions," Fenton said in a statement. "This is the very essence of the First Amendment."

Read more: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/nj_transit_employee_fired_for.html

[badtoworse]

1. If he had dropped it in a jar of urine instead of burning it, he'd have been hailed as an artist .

[hfojvt]

2. now people are gonna get ideas

:rofl:

[Obamanaut]

3. And possibly given a stipend by the National Endowment for the Arts. nt