Fabrice Muamba is an African-born soccer player for the Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League. In a soccer game against Tottenheim Hotspur, he fell to the field suffering from cardiac arrest (situation in which blood stops flowing to the heart). His heart stopped functioning for a full 78 minutes.

Liam Stacey, a 21 year old British university student, posted this tweet after Muamba's fall,

A number of Twitter users took offense to Stacey's comments and responded directly to him. Stacey replied to their comments with racist remarks. His actions so offended people, that he was reported to several police forces throughout Britain. Stacey was arrested soon afterwards and sent to court. In court, District Judge John Charles had this to say,

"In my view, there is no alternative to an immediate prison sentence. It was not the football world who was praying for [Muamba].... everybody was praying for his life."

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-17515992

Stacey had to serve a 56 day prison sentence for his racist remarks.

To complete this Journal response,

Should citizens be punished for offensive remarks on the Internet?
Comment on one of your peer's responses.

-Brenden Lee Teacher

oasis

#40, Twitter