A jury in New York acquitted a man caught on camera tampering with a pride flag this week. The accused couldn’t help but taunt prosecutors with homophobic comments as he left the courtroom.
A court in Watertown, New York acquitted Donnie Lee Barrigar, 37, on June 2. The Watertown Daily Times reports that Barrigar broke down in tears as the jury read the verdict. Apparently emboldened by his acquittal, Barrigar also felt a need to berate the prosecutors in the case.
“Read your Bible, boys,” he said following the verdict. “Read your Bibles.”
Related: Iowa man sentenced to 15 years after stealing and burning Pride flag
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Barrigar stood trial for criminal tampering after he posted a video of himself to YouTube stealing the pride flag from outside Waterton City Hall and stuffing it in a nearby mailbox last year. The city, like many others, raises the pride flag every June in honor of pride month.
During the trial, a number of city employees testified that locating and restoring the pride flag interfered with their work. Barrigar argued that he exercised his First Amendment rights to free speech and freedom of religion to remove the flag. Still, despite the testimony from city employees, the jury did not find that Barrigar’s actions caused “substantial inconvenience” to the city.
More than 150 LGBTQ rights supporters protested outside the courthouse during Barrigar’s trial. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also labeled Barrigar a “bigot.”
Donnie Barrigar has a history of disruptive behavior where the city of Watertown is concerned. Besides his trial for taking down the pride flag, police also have arrested Barrigar for trespassing after he invaded a city council meeting to push a “flat Earth” theory. Barrigar will appear in court for that case June 4.
In 2019, Barrigar also publicly urged violence against the LGBTQ community, writing on Facebook “Watertown is having a LGBTQ celebration. For the love of God, please let someone go on a mass shooting.”
TheRedLine
He needs to be isolated, alone, by himself, on top of a very high mountain so he can think for a very long time.
UlfRaynor
For some reason, I get the distinct impression that thinking isn’t high on the list of his attributes.
Liquid Silver
OK, then. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.
The law is Caesar’s. Enjoy.
Vince
There was a not documentary about flat earthers I watched on Netflix a while ago. Interesting seeing the intersection between them, Trump cultists, and christians. That’s what would show up at their meetings.
A who’s who of derangement.
RyanMBecker
What exactly was he acquitted of? It was indisputable that he was guilty of vandalism since he himself posted a video of his actions on YouTube. So unless the state way overcharged him, e.g. for murder, I don’t see how he could’ve been found not guilty.
Mack
Betcha there were similar thing people on the jury.
edensasp
third-degree criminal tampering, a misdemeanor.
butchqueen
He can shove that bible where the sun don’t shine!
gregg2010
Yet another flat earther Christian idiot.
SFMike
Another dangerous Christofascist to add to the Republican party mix of seditionists.
BoomerMyles
Christofacist – We all need to use that term more and get it used in the media.
BoomerMyles
Why isn’t he being prosecuted for his mass shooting statement?
That’s a direct call for violence and murder against a protected minority.
wiggie
all they did was embolden him. He’s going to do something worse and end up doing hard time.
darklight413
What a complete moron! And, apparently not the only bigot in Watertown. It’s time to stop letting the village idiots have their 15 min of fame. It’s time we take back the country from the inbreds who worship donald trump and have the collective IQ of fungal life.
Heywood Jablowme
“As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.” – Proverbs 26:11
Kevan1
Not of God, of a crazy ignorance and bigotry.
Leash
sounds like it’s just a matter of time before he snaps and does she mass shooting himself.
“read the bible” he says, isn’t a big part of christianity how you should leave the judgment to g*d?
free speech and practice of religion doesn’t allow you to rip down a flag you don’t like you fcking moron.
John
I am so freaken tired of these idiots yelling read the bible. They might as well be saying read Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Believe what you want but stop all the freaken violence and hate based on your personal beliefs. It is beyond me how educated people can buy into that stuff. 80 percent of them cherry pick what is in that book anyway!
James
The jury was nothing but homophobies. They did not even fine him for destruction of city property.
kevkev
I am so thankful that I don’t live in your country, a different moron for every occasion!