bonnie Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 This is the same town that a young handicapped college student had to leave and find another college because a muslim did not want his service dog in class Charges filed in St. Cloud anti-Muslim cartoon posting. By BOB VON STERNBERG, Star Tribune Setting the stage for a showdown over free speech rights, a resident of Waite Park, Minn., plans to fight St. Cloud officials' decision to fine him for posting offensive anti-Muslim cartoons last month. The city attorney's office last week cited Sidney Allen Elyea, 41, with violating a city ordinance that prohibits posting written materials on utility poles. Elyea has admitted posting the cartoons, telling police he did so to educate city residents about Islam, said his attorney, Ryan Garry. The cartoons, discovered Dec. 8, depicted images such as the Prophet Muhammad engaged in bestiality and sodomy, as well as an Islamic crescent with a swastika inside it. They were posted in front of a mosque and a Somali-owned store. The city's complaint states that the cartoons "were placed in high-pedestrian traffic areas and were placed to target local Muslim citizens. The posters were designed to harass, and they had that effect." Although some local residents pushed for Elyea to face criminal charges, prosecutors Staerns and Benton counties declined to do so, saying the cartoons had to be considered free speech. Garry agreed with Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall's description of the case as "classic First Amendment" issue. Garry said the city's ordinance is overly broad, too vague and amounts to "discriminatory enforcement." In an e-mail, Garry wrote, "the government is not punishing my client for posting a piece of paper to a telephone pole, but rather punishing him for offering an opinion on a religious and political issue that they disapprove of and find offensive." He added: "I am not defending the content of my client's political and religious speech. However, the government should know that I will vigorously fight this case to the end to defend his right to say it." The two civil charges filed against Elyea carry a maximum fine of $250. Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 BONNIE WELL this will be an interesting case dgrimm60 It will be. The guy doing the cartoons should have had more sense but the animosity is growing in that town. If this had been a derogatory cartoon concerning the pope or for us EW we would have been dismissed quickly for complaining. The preferential treatment to one group causes a rift that gets bigger and bigger Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shane Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Too bad he is only going to have to pay $500. Guys like him need to be locked up to learn their lesson. At least 10 days in the county jail would be good. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 Too bad he is only going to have to pay $500. Guys like him need to be locked up to learn their lesson. At least 10 days in the county jail would be good. Free speech whether or not it pleases you. What he did was stupid but something more than stupid will happen if they do not stop giving special consideration to one religious group. Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shane Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Free speech means he can stand in his front yard and say anything he wants. He can go posting fliers on power poles. The poles are themselves private property. Did he get permission from the power company to post fliers on their poles? Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 Free speech means he can stand in his front yard and say anything he wants. He can go posting fliers on power poles. The poles are themselves private property. Did he get permission from the power company to post fliers on their poles? Don't think the power company is the one complaining. He can go into town and say anything he wants concerning his opinion on muslims or whoever. People may not like it but that is life. Had his rude comments concerned EW what do you think a complaint from a SDA would have meant.A BIG NOTHING except maybe getting laughed at. The powers that be have created a mess and it gets worse. Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shane Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 If there is a public ordinance that bans posting things on utility poles, than he broke the law and should be punished. That is not a free-speech issue. Now if he pays a billboard company to put his hate speech up on a billboard and people get upset about it, then that is too bad. That would be a free speech issue. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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