A retired Tennessee police officer, Larry Bushart, has won an $835,000 settlement after being jailed for 37 days for sharing a meme of Donald Trump on Facebook. The meme accurately quoted Trump's 'we have to get over it' comment following a school shooting, which Bushart shared in a thread about a vigil for conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) represented Bushart, arguing that his First Amendment rights were violated when he was arrested and held on a $2 million bond.
Background
This case highlights ongoing tensions between free speech rights and law enforcement's response to political expression on social media. The incident occurred in the context of heightened political polarization and debates over the limits of protected speech online.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- May 20, 2026 at 10:50 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10