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The arrest of Larry Bushart in Perry County, Tennessee in September 2025 for posting a political meme has raised serious concerns about free speech in the aftermath of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Bushart, a former police officer and sheriff’s deputy, was taken into custody on September 22, 2025, after sharing a meme on a local Facebook group that referenced former President Donald Trump’s comments following a 2024 school shooting. The arrest came shortly after Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at an event in Utah earlier that month.
According to Perry County arrest records and statements from Sheriff Nick Weems, Bushart was charged with making “threats of mass violence on school property and activities.” He was held on a $2 million bond for over a month before the charges were eventually dropped by the district attorney’s office on October 29.
The meme that led to Bushart’s arrest showed a photograph of then-presidential candidate Trump with a quote reading “We have to get over it” – words Trump reportedly said hours after the January 2024 mass shooting at Perry High School in Iowa. Bushart had captioned the image with “This seems relevant today…” in a thread discussing Kirk’s memorial.
“This was the same image posted by Everytown, the gun control advocacy group, back in January 2024,” noted Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), who has been monitoring the case.
Sheriff Weems later defended the arrest in an October 28 interview with News Channel 5, claiming the meme had alarmed county residents because it referenced a school shooting. However, critics pointed out that the shooting mentioned in the meme occurred in Perry, Iowa – not Perry County, Tennessee – and that the post contained no explicit threats.
The case gained national attention after being highlighted by progressive social media accounts like Occupy Democrats, whose post about Bushart’s situation garnered over 23,000 reactions and 4,700 comments. The story spread widely across Facebook and Reddit, with many viewing it as an alarming example of political prosecution.
Liliana Segura, a journalist for The Intercept who investigated the case, described it as an “absurd prosecution,” noting that Bushart had previously shared other left-leaning content about Kirk’s death on both the local Facebook group and his personal page before his arrest.
The timing of the arrest – during a particularly tense political climate following a high-profile assassination – has raised questions about the selective enforcement of speech laws. Civil liberties experts have expressed concern about the chilling effect such arrests could have on political expression, particularly in politically divided communities.
Bushart’s son confirmed the details of his father’s arrest in a telephone conversation with reporters. When reached for comment, Bushart’s attorney Joshua Phillips declined to provide additional details about the case.
The district attorney’s decision to drop the charges came after significant media coverage and public scrutiny. According to local news outlets WKRN and the Nashville Tennessean, Bushart was released from custody immediately after the charges were dismissed.
The case highlights the growing tensions surrounding political speech in an era of increased polarization, particularly in the context of violence against political figures. Legal experts note that while certain forms of threatening speech aren’t protected by the First Amendment, political commentary – even when controversial – typically receives strong constitutional protection.
As the nation continues to grapple with political violence and its aftermath, the Bushart case serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between public safety concerns and fundamental free speech rights in American democracy.
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5 Comments
This seems like a concerning case of government overreach and infringement on free speech rights. I hope the charges being dropped indicates the authorities realized their mistake in arresting this individual for a meme.
This is a concerning development that highlights the need to protect free speech, even for speech that some may find offensive or objectionable. I hope the authorities learn from this experience and recommit to upholding constitutional rights.
It’s good to see the charges against this man were eventually dropped, but the fact that he was jailed for over a month is alarming. We need to be vigilant in defending the right to free expression, even for unpopular views.
The timing of this arrest, so soon after the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, is quite troubling. I wonder if there were any political motivations at play here. Free speech should be vigorously protected, even for controversial or critical speech.
While I understand the sensitivity around school safety, arresting someone for a political meme seems like an overreaction that tramples on fundamental rights. I hope this case leads to a review of policies to ensure a more balanced approach.