UPDATE: The post in question was re-instated on the Reward Factor Facebook page after this story aired.
(Memphis) A private citizen in Cordova posted a bounty on his Facebook Page, offering a $10,000 reward for evidence leading to the arrest or resignation of the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Memphis.
During the gathering of this story, Facebook took down the post, telling News Channel 3 that the user had violated Facebook’s terms of use.
The original post read:
“REWARD OFFER: $10,000.00 Dollars in cold hard cash!
Starting today… and over the course of the next few days, REWARD FACTOR will be posting specific names of high ranking people here in the Memphis area who are active participants in the HUGE amount of ABORTIONS that are performed here in Memphis. Each name of each individual, whether as a Physician, or Director of an abortion clinic here in Memphis, whose name does appear here on REWARD FACTOR… will have a TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR BOUNTY placed on his or her head… payable to whomever submits to REWARD FACTOR sufficient evidence of any deed, act, or comment that concludes in that person being forced to resign or lose his or her license to practice medicine, OR leads to a criminal conviction of sufficient level to be a FELONY OFFENSE.
Our 1st Bounty is offered on: Mr. Barry Chase, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Memphis.
If you are a supporter of our efforts, please feel free to share this with all of your Facebook friends and family. Your support is appreciated.”
The man posting this message is Thurstle Mullen, a nurse living in Cordova.
Mullen has also posted other rewards on his page, offering money to the person who killed Lorenzen Wright, or to the person who abducted Holly Bobo.
“I think it’s just an alternative method to try and find solutions to problems,” Mullen said.
He emphasized that he’s not advocating violence. He’s only paying for information.
Referring to people protesting Planned Parenthood on the sidewalk, he said, “I don’t think they’re going to make a change. So if you’re going to make a change, you’ve got to get rid of the doctors. And you know there are the people who have tried violence, and obviously, that’s not something I’m advocating for. There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and there’s more than way to get rid of a politician.”
Mullen said he suspects illegal activity at abortion clinics, and he said this reward is one incentive for someone to come forward with proof.
A Planned Parenthood spokesperson gave News Channel 3 this statement:
“This internet ‘bounty’ is part of a concerted, nationwide effort to threaten health care practitioners and staff who advocate for safe and legal abortion. As it is an attempt to bully, intimidate or harass Mr. Barry Chase, it appears to violate Facebook’s terms of use: http://www.facebook.com/legal/terms and should be removed. Considering the long history of violence against abortion clinics and practitioners, every threat like this should be taken seriously and investigated by local law enforcement.”
Memphis Police did not respond to News Channel 3 on whether there is an investigation in this case.
Facebook however, told News Channel 3 this post did violate their terms of use. A spokesperson for Facebook said they removed the post.
Some citizens said they agree with the pro-life message, but do not agree with Mullen’s method.
Memphis resident Rosalind Gary said, “I don’t really believe in abortions, but you can’t just do crazy stuff to people just because you think it’s wrong.”
Memphian Daniel Newman also said he is pro-life. But upon reading the post, he said, “Anytime you post something like this, there’s responsibility you have to take on.”
Mullen, however, said he would not feel responsible for violence against Barry Chase.
“They can do whatever they want to do, but they’re not going to get the $10,000 if they cause physical harm to Mr. Chase,” Mullen said.
If he knew someone was planning violence against Chase, Mullen said he would definitely turn him/her in to police.
