This is interesting … but thankfully not surprising:
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has weighed in on the Terry Jones saga, filing a brief supporting the controversial pastor’s right to protest this afternoon in front of a mosque.
In the eight-page brief to the 19th District Court, the ACLU argued that efforts to make Jones pay a peace bond to protest outside the Islamic Center of America constitute prior restraint of his rights to free speech and assembly.
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But prosecutors argued in court today that Jones’ protest could compromise public safety because the Ford Road mosque is located in a heavily trafficked area near churches, a senior center and schools. Police also argued that Jones — who has burned a Quran — has had threats against his life.
The city has said Jones can move the protest to other “free speech zones” elsewhere in the city or pay a peace bond — as much as $100,000 — to cover police costs if he demonstrates at the mosque. He refused, setting up today’s court battle.
It’s fairly obvious to me: Terry Jones is a piece of shit; even a piece has First Amendment Rights.
The courts have been fairly clear on this: people can not be charged a fee for police protection because their speech might provoke violence. This is why everyone from the KKK to the Illinois Nazis gets to have their say. The First Amendment does not protect you from the consequences of your speech. If Terry Jones starts a riot or blocks traffic or something, he can be punished. But he’s an American. He gets to say whatever he wants. And good on the ACLU for standing with this vile creep. I just suggest they take a shower afterward.