Tennessee Man Freed After 37 Days in Jail on $2M Bond for Facebook Meme, Charges Dropped

A Tennessee man, Larry Bushart, was released from jail on October 29 after spending 37 days incarcerated on a $2 million bond for posting a Facebook meme. Prosecutors dropped the felony charge of "threats of mass violence on school property and activities" against the 61-year-old former police officer. The case drew national attention and sparked debate over free speech rights and the interpretation of online content.

Bushart's arrest stemmed from a meme he shared in a local Perry County Facebook group, which depicted former President Donald Trump with the quote, "We have to get over it." This quote originated from Trump's remarks following a January 2024 school shooting in Perry, Iowa, and Bushart added the caption, "This seems relevant today." The meme was posted in the comments section of a thread planning a vigil for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems stated that while most of Bushart’s posts were lawful free speech, the meme referencing a school shooting caused alarm among local residents. Weems asserted that investigators believed Bushart was "fully aware of the fear his post would cause and intentionally sought to create hysteria within the community." He also indicated that Bushart was arrested after refusing to delete the post.

Despite the sheriff's claims of "mass hysteria," open records requests filed by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) found no communication within the school district regarding any perceived threat. Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney for FIRE, commented on Bushart's release, stating, "We are relieved that Larry Bushart has been freed after nearly 40 days in jail, and subject to a $2 million bond, over a Facebook post clearly protected by the First Amendment."

Bushart's bail was set at an unusually high $2 million, requiring him to post at least $210,000 for release, an amount reportedly beyond his means. His attorney had filed a motion for a reduced bond, but the hearing was delayed. Upon his release, Bushart told local radio station WOPC-FM, "Very happy to be going home," adding with a laugh, "I didn’t seek to be a media sensation, but here we are."