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A Tennessee resident, who spent over a month in jail for not removing a Facebook meme satirizing the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will receive $850,000 as a settlement from government officials.
Larry Bushart, a retired police officer aged 61, was held for 37 days with a hefty $2 million bond before the felony charges against him were dismissed in October.
During his incarceration, Bushart missed significant personal milestones, including losing his post-retirement job, missing his wedding anniversary, and being absent for the birth of his granddaughter. These events were highlighted in a federal lawsuit he filed against Perry County, Sheriff Nick Weems, and the investigator who secured his arrest warrant.
“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart remarked in a statement released Wednesday, coinciding with the announcement of the settlement. The statement was issued by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the advocacy group that supported him in his legal battle.
“The freedom for people to engage in civil discourse is critical for a healthy democracy. I look forward to moving on and spending time with my family,” he further expressed.
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Larry Bushart won an $850,000 settlement against officials in Tennessee over his arrest for refusing to take down a Facebook meme making fun of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. (Getty Images; LadyJay Creations LLC)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Perry County Mayor John Carroll for comment.
Bushart was arrested in September, after he refused to remove a Facebook meme that joked about Kirk being killed while speaking to college students in Utah.
The meme that led to his arrest featured an image of President Donald Trump alongside the words, “We have to get over it,” captioned with, “This seems relevant today…” The meme explained that the quote was originally said by Trump in 2024, following a school shooting at Perry High School in Iowa.
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However, the arrest warrant was based on the “absurd notion” that the meme could be interpreted as a threat against Perry County High School in Tennessee, FIRE said.
Furthermore, the organization noted that Bushart did not create or alter the meme.
Weems told news outlets that the meme did not actually lead investigators to believe there was a real threat. However, he stated that the case hinged on how some people could potentially interpret it as a threat to a local school.
Charlie Kirk debates with students during his American Comeback Tour stop at California State University Northridge on March 6, 2025. (Benjamin Hanson/Middle East Images/AFP)
“No one should be hauled off to jail in the dark of night over a harmless meme just because the authorities disagree with its message,” said FIRE senior attorney Adam Steinbaugh. “We’re pleased that Larry has been compensated for this injustice, but local law enforcement never should have forced him to endure this ordeal in the first place.”
FIRE noted that hundreds of Americans have been censored for their online speech following Kirk’s assassination. The group currently represents Monica Weeks, a public servant who was fired by the state for a Facebook post criticizing Kirk shortly after his death.
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