Civil Rights Pioneer Plans Citizen Arrest During Quran Burning

Stetson Kennedy

A Florida civil rights pioneer says he’ll try to make a citizen’s arrest on the pastor who plans to burn the Quran on Sept. 11.

Stetson Kennedy says he’ll be in Gainesville this weekend, and will conduct a citizen’s arrest on Dove World Outreach Center Pastor Terry Jones on the grounds of inciting violence and rioting.

“Any citizen in the presence of a crime in progress may make a citizen’s arrest,” Kennedy said.

“In this case, I would intend to take the Reverend Jones to the nearest U.S. Attorney.”

Kennedy also says he thinks Jones would be committing sedition by motivating America’s enemies overseas, although there’s no legal precedent for any of Kennedy’s claims.

Kennedy wrote several watershed books during the Civil Rights movement and still protests to this day, most recently with a group of Florida farm workers.

Despite the threats and criticism, the church’s pastor says the Koran burning is still scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 6 at the Gainesville church.