New Jersey To Rehire Transit Worker Fired For Burning Quran

[RantinRavin]

Source: NPR


Mark Lennihan/AP Derek Fenton was fired after burning pages of the Quran while protesting a proposed Islamic Center in this Manhattan location.
New Jersey Transit will rehire a man who was fired after burning a Quran. The ACLU of New Jersey brought a suit on behalf of Derek Fenton, who was fired for burning a Quran last year on the ninth anniversary of 9/11.

According to settlement papers released by the ACLU, Fenton will get back his $86,110-a-year position, receive backpay at a rate of $331.20 per day since he was fired and he'll receive $25,000 for "Mr. Fenton's pain and suffering." The settlement also states that Fenton will not have to "disavow or recant that conduct" and will not have to undergo any "sensitivity training."

"Our government cannot pick and choose whose free speech rights are protected, based on whether or not they approve of the content of our statements or actions," Fenton said in a statement. "This is the very essence of the First Amendment.


Read more: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/04/22/135635324/new-jersey-to-rehire-transit-worker-fired-for-burning-quran

[bbinacan]

1. Good news! n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

2. Makes sense. People are allowed to be as bigoted & hateful as they want when they're off the clock..

If he'd done it during work hours or associated himself with his work in any way, I think his sacking would have been justified, but this is different because he was a bigot in his own time...

[WatsonT]

3. He shouldn't have been fired

he was off the clock.

[emilyg]

4. Good.

[petronius]

5. Damn socialist ACLU, ramming this left-wing nonsense down our throats!

Wait..., what?

;)

[NutmegYankee]

6. A proper decision. Freedom of speech prevails.

[bluestateguy]

7. As a public employee if he did not break the law or his employment contract, then he should stay

And I do hope this guy says thank you to the ACLU, but I won't bet on it.

[cactusfractal]

8. Listen? Do you hear it?

It's the faraway pop! of contard craniums as they realize that the ACLU did something they agree with. Again. Funny how they only pay attention when it's the ACLU stemming the tide of rampant Christianism and then it's a WAR ON CHRISTMAS!