Terry Jones and the Dove World Outreach Center may be charged $200,000 by the city of Gainesville, Florida, for security costs incurred by the canceled Koran-burning originally planned for September 11.
Jones’ announcement of “International Burn-A-Koran” day resulted in some violent protests in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and threats against Americans. In response, Gainesville upped its security. According to The Associated Press: “Police Maj. Rick Hanna said more than 200 officers were on duty last weekend patrolling the church, the University of Florida football game and “soft targets” like the mall. Another 160 sheriff’s deputies were also working because of the planned protest at Dove World Outreach Center.”
Though Jones didn’t go through with the protest, city officials say they want Jones to foot the bill for the security anyway.
The AP reports that “Gainesville City Manager Russ Blackburn said he doesn’t know if the city has legal authority to compel the church to pay.”
Blackburn would not say whether Jones’ church had agreed to pay, or if the city has legal recourse if he refuses, but in an email response to TPM he said that “the City has not finalized the costs for the event” but would within the next ten days.
Full coverage of Terry Jones and the Dove World Outreach Center here.
