A Massachusetts teenager who was put in jail a month ago as a result of a Facebook post, has been released after a grand jury refused to idict him. Cameron D'Ambrosio was arrested on May 1 and accused of "communicating a terrorist threat."
The 18-year old is an aspiring rapper, according to Reuters. He's from Methuen Mass. About 30 miles north of Boston where the infamous twin explosions that left three dead and 264 others injured at the Boston Marathon on April 15.
D'Ambrosio posted lyrics to his Facebook page that read: "a boston bombing wait till u see the shit I do."
The lyric sparked a viral online effort by rights activists to have him freed. The argument was, because this was a lyric in a song it was, in its way, artistic. Furthermore, arresting him for it was thought by many to be a violation of freedom of speech.
Those who supported petitions to have D'Ambrosio freed saw the action as a clear example of the growing tension between law enforcement and the first amendment.
Lynn Rooney, Lawrence District Court Judge, issued an order on Thursday to release D'Ambrosio from custody after the grand jury would not indict him. He was arrested after fellow students at Methuen High School read the lyrics and brought them to the attention of police.
"While today is a major victory for Cam, the chilling effect that this case has already had on free speech cannot be undone," said Evan Greer, of Boston's Center for Rights and Fight For The Future, which organized an online petition supporting D'Ambrosio that gathered 90,000 signatures.
If D'Ambrosio had been convicted of the terrorism charge, he would have faced as many as 20 years in prison.
