A Tennessee man is still incarcerated as the nation watches closely over questions of free speech, memes and criminal charges.
Larry Bushart Jr., age 61, of Lexington, Tennessee, remains behind bars after posting a meme in a local Facebook group that referenced conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and a school-shooting quote from Donald Trump. The image reportedly showed Trump’s face with the caption “We have to get over it,” which he said after a 2024 school shooting in Iowa, and Bushart added the line “Seems relevant today.”
Local officials say Bushart’s post triggered concern in the community because it appeared on a thread for a vigil related to Charlie Kirk, and they interpreted the meme as a threat of mass violence at a school. He was arrested on September 22 on a charge of “threatening mass violence at a school” under Tennessee law. His bond was set at $2 million.
Bushart has not been released and his next hearing is set for December 4. His legal team is seeking a bond reduction and dismissal of the charges, arguing his post was political commentary, not a true threat. Free speech advocates call the case “a dangerous precedent.”
The sheriff’s office defends the arrest, citing community alarm and the ambiguous nature of the post. But critics argue the lack of a specific target, date or location in the meme means Bushart’s arrest could undermine First Amendment protections.
