At a Glance
- Robert John Burke, 65, was arrested after viral video showed him yelling racial slurs outside a Social Security office
- The incident occurred on January 14 near Norcross, Georgia, in front of children
- Burke was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and is being held on $1,300 bond
- Why it matters: The arrest highlights the limits of free speech when language crosses into “fighting words” that could provoke violence
A 65-year-old man is behind bars after cell phone footage captured him shouting profanities and racial slurs outside a Social Security office in Gwinnett County, Georgia, authorities confirmed.
The Incident
Gwinnett County police identified the suspect as Robert John Burke following the January 14 outburst near Norcross. The disturbing scene unfolded in front of multiple witnesses, including children who were present outside the federal building.
According to the police report cited by Fox 5 Atlanta, Burke had previously been banned from the Social Security office location. A security guard told officers that Burke became enraged after being informed he could not enter the building.
The cell phone video, obtained by police through open records requests, shows Burke shouting aggressively at people gathered outside. Portions of the audio had to be muted due to the extensive use of profanity and racial slurs. During his tirade, Burke could be heard claiming “Free speech” as justification for his behavior.
Legal Limits of Free Speech
Police emphasized that the First Amendment has clear boundaries when it comes to inflammatory language. Authorities specifically cited “fighting words” doctrine – language that could reasonably provoke immediate violence from those targeted.
Investigators used the video evidence combined with witness statements to secure an arrest warrant for Burke. The charge: misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Capture and Charges
Initially, officers couldn’t locate Burke at the scene of the Social Security office incident. However, law enforcement caught up with him the following day under unrelated circumstances.
According to News Of Los Angeles‘s reporting, Burke was ultimately taken into custody after police responded to a separate disturbance call at a hotel near Duluth, Georgia. The timing allowed authorities to serve the outstanding warrant from the Social Security office incident.
Burke currently remains in custody on the disorderly conduct charge. His bond has been set at $1,300.
Olivia M. Hartwell reported that News Of Los Angeles has reached out to the Gwinnett County Police Department for additional comment on the case.
