A Minnesota man who admits posting anti-Muslim cartoons in several St. Cloud locations has been cited with violating a city ordinance.
Forty-one-year-old Sidney Allen Elyea of Waite Park was assessed two civil charges Friday of posting materials on fixtures. Each carries a maximum fine of $250.
Elyea says he posted the cartoons to educate others about Islam.
St. Cloud city attorney Jan Petersen says the cartoons had sexually explicit depictions of bestiality and sodomy. He says the postings were designed to harass Muslim citizens.
Elyea’s attorney tells the St. Cloud Times the cartoons may have been distasteful but Elyea meant no harm. Ryan Garry says Elyea was exercising his right to free speech.
Garry says his client plans to fight the charges.
The owner of a store that caters to Somalis on East St. Germain Street found graphic, sexually-explicit cartoons posted on a utility pole in front of her business earlier this week.