Court: flipping a bird at pastor doesn’t put you behind bars
The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday reversed a disorderly conduct conviction against a man who flipped a bird at his pastor, saying the man’s behavior was protected speech under the First Amendment.
The incident occurred at the 12Stone Church in Flowery Branch when David Justin Freeman attended services in August 2014. As the service came to a close, Pastor Jason Berry asked that any teachers who were present to stand and be recognized so the congregation could pray for them to have a successful year.
Freeman, who home-schools, stood up, raised his middle finger in the air and stared angrily at the pastor. Freeman then shouted, “Don’t send your kids to the evil public schools. Don’t let Satan or the devil raise your kids,” according to court testimony.
Berry testified that Freeman’s behavior frightened him and a sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to the church where Freeman was charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor offense. He was later convicted, sentenced to a year on probation and ordered to pay a $270 fine.
The state Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion, overturned Freeman’s conviction.
Freeman could not be found guilty under the disorderly conduct statute, Justice Harold Melton wrote, “because there was no showing here that Freeman’s act of silently raising his middle finger from the back of the church during the church service constituted ‘fighting words’ or a ‘true threat’ that would amount to a tumultuous act.”
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
