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 (@ErikaLathon) June 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/sandybryant/status/342078213494829056
Fed US Attn. Bill Killian & FBI agent among speakers at meeting discussing hate speech and rights of Muslims. Manchester Tn.
— erika lathon (@ErikaLathon) June 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/billhobbs/status/342059821446615041
https://twitter.com/billhobbs/status/342067723397902339
Ran onto comedian Victoria Jackson in Manchester. Super nice. @zanies on August 8th.
— erika lathon (@ErikaLathon) June 5, 2013
Laurie Sterling of Lady Patriots, Me, comedian Victoria Jackson. pic.twitter.com/1v7RN0Mnrr
— erika lathon (@ErikaLathon) June 5, 2013
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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
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