Back in March, the Bradley County Sheriff’s office, in Tennessee thought it a good idea to promote Jesus on the Bradley Sheriff’s office Facebook Page. Specifically Sheriff Eric Watson.
The level of dumb above is staggering. “One of the most historic days,” isn’t even a thing. March 27th, 33 AD? The American Atheists organization saw this and said, “C’mon man!”
The lawsuit was filed in May after sheriff Watson was accused of posting an "explicitly religious Easter message on the Sheriff's Office's official Facebook page." American Atheists sent a letter to the sheriff advising against religious messages on government-sponsored pages to which the sheriff told a local paper he "intended to be use his position as sheriff to proselytize," according to the release. When critical comments on the department's Facebook page were posted criticizing the Sheriff, the comments were blocked and deleted while comments in support were left up.
Under the settlement, $15,000 will be paid to American Atheists and plaintiffs Joshua Stevens and Jane Doe. Another $26,000 will go to attorney's fees.
Sheriff Watson will be allowed to have his own Facebook page that is "clearly marked" and contains only his personal opinions.
See that? Sheriff Watson can have his very own page to proselytize on.