Post by Logan on Jul 6, 2016 2:22:06 GMT -6
1 p.m. Tuesday
In a release, the Urbana Police Department says it respects that Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz will not charge Urbana's Bryton Mellott in Monday's flag-burning incident.
"Laws dealing with questions of Constitutional rights are extremely complex," the release said. "The Urbana Police Department recognizes that this is a case where the right of free speech may have been in conflict with the safety of innocent and uninvolved citizens. Our officers strive every day to achieve a balance between public safety and preservation of Constitutional rights. In this circumstance, our officers acted in good faith and in reliance on a state law that was passed by our legislature in an attempt to do just that. We respect the analysis of the State’s Attorney’s Office and their determination not to proceed with the prosecution in this matter."
12:15 p.m. Tuesday
Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said today that the man arrested on July 4 after a flag-burning Facebook post will not be charged.
"The State's Attorney's Office is declining to file charges against (Bryton) Mellott as the act of burning a flag is protected free speech according to the US Supreme Court decision, Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989)," Rietz said in a statement.
Read more: www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-07-05/update-urbana-flag-burner-wont-be-charged.html
In a release, the Urbana Police Department says it respects that Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz will not charge Urbana's Bryton Mellott in Monday's flag-burning incident.
"Laws dealing with questions of Constitutional rights are extremely complex," the release said. "The Urbana Police Department recognizes that this is a case where the right of free speech may have been in conflict with the safety of innocent and uninvolved citizens. Our officers strive every day to achieve a balance between public safety and preservation of Constitutional rights. In this circumstance, our officers acted in good faith and in reliance on a state law that was passed by our legislature in an attempt to do just that. We respect the analysis of the State’s Attorney’s Office and their determination not to proceed with the prosecution in this matter."
12:15 p.m. Tuesday
Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said today that the man arrested on July 4 after a flag-burning Facebook post will not be charged.
"The State's Attorney's Office is declining to file charges against (Bryton) Mellott as the act of burning a flag is protected free speech according to the US Supreme Court decision, Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989)," Rietz said in a statement.
Read more: www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-07-05/update-urbana-flag-burner-wont-be-charged.html