Larry Bushart, a retired Tennessee law enforcement officer, is officially off the hook after facing charges over a Facebook meme criticizing Donald Trump. Bushart was arrested in September and charged with threatening mass violence at a school after posting a meme referencing Trump’s comments following the 2024 Perry High School shooting in Iowa.
The meme, created by the gun safety group Everytown, showed the quote “We have to get over it” beside Trump’s photo. The statement came from Trump himself during a campaign stop: “It’s just horrible to see that happening. It’s just horrible. So surprising to see it here, but uhh… we have to get over it. We have to move forward.”
Bushart shared the meme with the caption, “This seems relevant today…” leading to his arrest. But this week, District Attorney Hans L. Schwendimann issued a nolle prosequi, meaning he won’t pursue the case. Bushart was released, and the charges were dropped.
The Perry County Sheriff and Court Clerk confirmed the dismissal on Wednesday.
This arrest sparked conversation about free speech and how far is too far when it comes to criticizing public officials online. For now, Bushart walks free, and the meme that landed him in jail remains a talking point in the national debate.
