Florida pastor arrested before he could burn 2,998 Qurans on anniversary of 9/11 attacks

[lostinblue 1,989]

By Associated Press, Published: September 11

MULBERRY, Fla. — Law enforcement arrested a Florida pastor Wednesday as he drove to a park to light nearly 3,000 Qurans on fire to protest the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Polk County sheriff’s deputies arrested Pastor Terry Jones, 61, and his associate pastor, Marvin Sapp Jr., 34, on felony charges as he drove a pickup truck towing a large barbecue-style grill filled with Qurans soaked in kerosene. He had said he was heading to a nearby park to burn 2,998 Qurans — one for every victim of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Sheriff’s officials said they would hold a news conference later Wednesday to discuss specific charges.

Mulberry’s mayor, along with area elected officials, a sheriff’s deputy and several Polk County residents have talked about the need to express love and tolerance for all faiths on Sept. 11.

Jones is the pastor of a small evangelical Christian church. He first gained attention in 2010 when he planned to burn a Quran on 9/11, although he eventually called it off. His congregation did burn the Muslim holy book in March 2011 and last year he promoted an anti-Muslim film. All three incidents sparked violence in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The most violent protest happened after the 2011 Quran burning as hundreds of protesters stormed a U.N. compound in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, killing seven foreigners, including four Nepalese guards.

Jones has repeatedly ignored pleas from the U.S. military asking him not to stage his protests. Military officials say his actions put American and Western troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere in danger.

Mulberry is a town of about 3,000 between Orlando and Tampa and has no connection to Jones’ church, which recently moved out of its Gainesville building.

An Egyptian court convicted Jones, along with seven Egyptian Coptic Christians in absentia, sentencing them to death on charges linked to the film. The ruling was seen as largely symbolic because Jones and the other defendants live outside of Egypt.

Just last week, a federal judge in Michigan issued a summary judgment in favor of Jones and his organization, Stand Up America Now, against the city of Dearborn for requiring Jones and his organization to sign a city-issued agreement in order to speak on public property in front of a Dearborn mosque in 2012.

Earlier Wednesday, about 75 people gathered In Mulberry for an interfaith prayer service to counter Jones’ actions.

Mike Ghouse, who has organized a 9/11 prayer service in his home state of Texas for nine years, brought his event to Mulberry because of Jones’ planned Quran burning. He initially had planned to hold the service in Texas but teamed with a group of Mulberry residents who had organized an anti-Jones Facebook page.

“Everyone has a right to believe what they believe,” said Ghouse, adding that it was Jones’ right as an American to express himself. Others said that while Jones was free to say or do whatever he wanted, the people of Mulberry didn’t want the world to think that the residents condone or agree with Jones’ views.

“We don’t buy what Jones is selling,” said Polk County resident Butch Rahman.

___

Follow Tamara Lush on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tamaralush

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/florida-pastor-arrested-before-he-could-burn-2998-qurans-on-anniversary-of-911-attacks/2013/09/11/6cba13e8-1b32-11e3-80ac-96205cacb45a_story.html

[Darnell 8,479]

ok - would it be any crime, at all, if'n he burned them behind his church, on church property?

[Loveforever143 13]

ok - would it be any crime, at all, if'n he burned them behind his church, on church property?

So you support his action?

Quran is not responsible for WTC

its jst those crazzy ppl nd they shud be punished for their crimes

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

So what law was he about to break

Seems within his rights to burn them

[Darnell 8,479]

support his action? burning paper in a public park, where other rules apply?

no.

anyway - he was arrested whilst he was driving his truck, no where close to the park.

This is getting more curious for which law he broke.

Sure, he has a history of rabble rousing already, and if he steps foot into Egypt he'll be sent straight to the prison (and probably summarily executed later) FWIW - he's not my brand of rabble-rouser. Anyone who's asked by the US Military to cease and desist, and doesn't do it, deserves a wig and some make-up whilst living at GITMO, servicing the prisoners there.

OK - now - my question is - which law did he break whilst driving his truck?

Edited September 12, 2013 by Darnell

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

So you support his action?

Quran is not responsible for WTC

its jst those crazzy ppl nd they shud be punished for their crimes

No I do 't support his action, but i do defend his right to do it

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I'll bet if it was the Bible he wouldn't have been arrested.

[Loveforever143 13]

support his action? burning paper in a public park, where other rules apply?

no.

anyway - he was arrested whilst he was driving his truck, no where close to the park.

This is getting more curious for which law he broke.

Sure, he has a history of rabble rousing already, and if he steps foot into Egypt he'll be sent straight to the prison (and probably summarily executed later) FWIW - he's not my brand of rabble-rouser. Anyone who's asked by the US Military to cease and desist, and doesn't do it, deserves a wig and some make-up whilst living at GITMO, servicing the prisoners there.

OK - now - my question is - which law did he break whilst driving his truck?

Ok then lets burn their Holly Book nd see wht we can gain frm this?

More violence around the world?:S:S:S

[Darnell 8,479]

why? it's already proved that when he did it in 2011, he caused a rash of sh|te .

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Ok then lets burn their Holly Book nd see wht we can gain frm this?

More violence around the world?:S:S:S

I am fairly sure you missed Darnell's point. The US military asked this D-bag to cease and he continues with the lame showmanship, indeed the military made the request because his actions have lead to more violence around the world in the past [i won't say caused, because that is on anyone nutty enough to give a rip about another destroying property that belongs to the person doing the destroying, and harming non-involved 3rd parties is the definition of overly sensitive.]

I too will be very curious what law he broke, beyond bad taste and clear desire to offend, how did this rate the claimed felony level arrest?

I would prefer he stopped being such a D-bag, but I don't see how he doesn't have the right to do what he is doing, dumb as it is.

Edited September 12, 2013 by ready4ONE

[Darnell 8,479]

I am happy to call Terry Jones a DoucheBag. VJ Filter or no.

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

So what law was he about to break

Seems within his rights to burn them

"Jones and Sapp Jr. were each charged with unlawful conveyance of fuel, a felony, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. Jones was also charged with a misdemeanor of openly carrying a firearm."

We live in a 1st amendment country. IMO - if some crazy nut wants to burn a book - why should I care? (if) It stirs up Sheet in Islamic countries - Screw 'em.

Now - (if) The gov starts burning books = not allowed.

& I'm still an eye for an eye kinda guy = go ahead...burn them books = flip them Islamic Zombies a bird = I won't join in but ...I won't stop it either.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

"Jones and Sapp Jr. were each charged with unlawful conveyance of fuel, a felony, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. Jones was also charged with a misdemeanor of openly carrying a firearm."

We live in a 1st amendment country. IMO - if some crazy nut wants to burn a book - why should I care? (if) It stirs up Sheet in Islamic countries - Screw 'em.

Now - (if) The gov starts burning books = not allowed.

& I'm still an eye for an eye kinda guy = go ahead...burn them books = flip them Islamic Zombies a bird = I won't join in but ...I won't stop it either.

So what about the law abiding muslims that treat the Quran as a holy book and worship properly? Should they be punished for a few nut jobs?

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

So what about the law abiding muslims that treat the Quran as a holy book and worship properly? Should they be punished for a few nut jobs?

It's a book...there's plenty more printed every day.

In fact - this fool is feeding book sales. Helping some print shop make money to print more books = he may be a friend of the prophet in spite of his hate.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Crashed~N2~Me

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

It's a book...there's plenty more printed every day.

In fact - this fool is feeding book sales. Helping some print shop make money to print more books = he may be a friend of the prophet in spite of his hate.

It's a book to you, but to many muslims it's a holy symbol. I can't even touch the one in my house without washing my hands first and praying. It's no different than the American flag.