An overflow crowd in Manchester, Tenn., packed into the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center this evening for an event sponsored by the American Muslim Advisory Council of Tennessee. The event, “Public Disclosure in a Diverse Society,” was organized “to increase awareness and understanding that American Muslims are not the terrorists some have made them out to be in social media and other circles.” However, it was attended by free-speech protesters concerned that the Justice Department was threatening a crackdown on “inflammatory” social media postings.
Federal prosecutor Bill Killian told local media the meeting would serve as “an educational effort with civil rights laws as they play into freedom of religion and exercising freedom of religion” and to “inform the public what federal laws are in effect and what the consequences are.” Many attendees called it creeping Sharia.
https://twitter.com/reporterlathon/status/342067803970494464
Auditorium is completely filled. Hundreds forced to stand outside. Meeting by American Muslim Advisory Council. pic.twitter.com/DAAYMDiEVH
— erika lathon (@reporterlathon) June 5, 2013
@billhobbs hundreds in parking lot can't get in. many policemen blocking all entrances. keep tweeting!
— Sandy Deaton Bryant (@sandybryant) June 5, 2013
Fed US Attn. Bill Killian & FBI agent among speakers at meeting discussing hate speech and rights of Muslims. Manchester Tn.
— erika lathon (@reporterlathon) June 5, 2013
iPhone panorama photo of 600+ in room for Manchester event. pic.twitter.com/t2ue0XxLqU
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 4, 2013
Am told that Pamela Geller is here. And also Victoria Jackson of SNL fame. #manchester.
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 4, 2013
Ran onto comedian Victoria Jackson in Manchester. Super nice. @zanies on August 8th.
— erika lathon (@reporterlathon) June 5, 2013
Laurie Sterling of Lady Patriots, Me, comedian Victoria Jackson. pic.twitter.com/1v7RN0Mnrr
— erika lathon (@reporterlathon) June 5, 2013
AMAC currently boring the #manchester crowd to death with a documentary film that keeps referring to Islam as a "race."
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 5, 2013
Federal prosecutor Bill Killian got heavily booed when introduced in #Manchester.
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 5, 2013
Fed prosecutor came to #manchester because of a joke someone put on Facebook that offended Muslims. Now he's lecturing on "hate crimes."
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 5, 2013
Putting an offensive joke on Facebook isn't a hate crime. That's why these people in #manchester are so angry at Fed Prosecutor Killian.
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 5, 2013
This US Deputy Attorney Bill Killian isn't that smart. Just referred to Muslims as "Arabs." Um. No. Most aren't. #manchester.
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 5, 2013
Killian just referred to Eric Holder. Test of his remarks were drowned out by boos. Dummy doesn't know his audience. #manchester
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 5, 2013
FBI guy now speaking – starts w/ mention of Holder. Gets booed. Then jokes "I just thought I'd get that out of the way." #manchester
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 5, 2013
FBI guys says "not true" that they're here to stomp on people's free speech rights. Okay. But Killian says antiIslam speech is a hate crime.
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 5, 2013
This crowd is angry because they were lectured to all night – and now the Muslim sponsors are allowing only TWO questions. #manchester
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 5, 2013
FBI guy promises none of the crowd will be prosecuted over their protesting. IRS not mentioned. #manchester.
— Bill Hobbs (@billhobbs) June 5, 2013
Really? No one would be prosecuted for protesting? It’s amazing and frightening that would even be suggested.
@billhobbs Kind of chilling that it's necessary to make those assurances. This whole thing gives me the creeps. Thanks for the live tweeting
— ErinG (@MechEngnr) June 5, 2013
