One of the state’s leading Muslim groups on Friday asked Palm Beach County officials to turn over all of the social media comments made on county computers by a public affairs employee who posted an anti-Islamic message on his private Facebook page.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida, Inc. emailed a public records request to the county commission asking for communications sent by employee John Jamason from any county computer within the last 30 days. The group requested any social media comments that Jamason received using a county computer within the same time frame.
In addition the group’s attorney, Wilfredo A. Ruiz, asked for all emails that were from or to Jamason’s county email address within the last three days. The group also asked for all emails that Jamason sent or received within the last 60 days that deal with Muslims, Muslim organizations, the Muslim community, Islam, Islamic organizations or Islamic centers.
Ruiz did not return a call for comment Friday.
WPTV-Channel 5 reported Thursday that Jamason posted an anti-Islamic message on his private Facebook page.
“Never forget. There is no such thing as radical Islam. All Islam is radical. There may be Muslims who don’t practice their religion, much like others. The Quran is a book that preaches hate,” the message said, according to WPTV.
Jamason did not return a call for comment Friday.
County Administrator Bob Weisman said the county is reviewing whether to discipline Jamason. An internal review found that the Facebook post was not made from a county computer, Weisman said.
Weisman said that federal laws protect employees who use social media websites like Facebook and Twitter.
“The private rights of employees on social media and for other modes of communication are protected by the U.S. Constitution and relevant law,” Weisman said.
Jamason, a 10-year county employee, is the manager of the media and public information division of the county’s Public Affairs department. His duties include writing and sending out news releases and coordinating public events. He earns $61,825 a year.
Jamason does not serve as an official spokesman for the county, Weisman said.
Jamason, whose father served as West Palm Beach’s police chief in the early 1980s, unsuccessfully tried to unseat then-Palm Beach County Commissioner Karen Marcus in 2008 Republican primary for the District 1 seat.
Before he was hired by the county, Jamason worked as a video editor for WPBF-Channel 25.