Restraining Order Issued Against Student for Twitter Punch-in-the-Face Threat
A judge in Arizona’s Maricopa County has issued a restraining order against an Arizona State University student who threatened in a Twitter post to punch a leader of a group opposing affirmative action.
The tweet by 22-year-old Steve Russell summarized his anger at Ward Connerly in less than 140 characters, according to Arizona Central’s Political Insider blog and Yes on 107. “I would not hesitate to punch Connerly in the face if I saw him @SwitchWineBar,” it read. “Just sayin.”
According to the Political Insider story, Russell “is from a generation where you post first, think later. That’s how Russell has described a Tweet that got him into trouble with a Maricopa County judge.”
The restraining order bars Russell from coming within 100 feet of Connerly, who is leading supporters of a ban on state-sponsored affirmative action. Russell is part of a group that supports existing affirmative action programs.
