Fla. pastor gets free car for not burning Quran
Former New York Giants tackle Brad Benson, right near car door, who is now a New Jersey car dealer, stands with Florida pastor Terry Jones, on Friday in South Brunswick, N.J., as they watch Paul Johnson, the chief financial officer for Women Rising, sit in a new Hyundai displaying peace symbols on the roof and hood. Benson gave the 2011 Hyundai Accent to Jones for canceling plans to burn a Quran. Jones in turn, donated the car to the Jersey City shelter Women Rising that helps abused women. (Oct. 22, 2010) Credit: AP
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. - A Florida pastor who drew international criticism by threatening to burn a copy of the Quran picked up a free car on Friday, his reward from a New Jersey car dealer for calling it off.
Former New York Giants tackle Brad Benson, who is now New Jersey's largest car dealer, offered Gainesville, Fla., pastor Terry Jones a 2011 Hyundai Accent worth $14,200 if he would agree to never burn the Muslim holy book. Jones had threatened to do it on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Jones never burned the Quran. On Friday, he arrived at Brad Benson Mitsubishi Hyundai in South Brunswick to collect the car, which he promptly donated to a Jersey City shelter for abused women.
The pastor said the offer Benson made in one of his dealership's quirky radio ads was not the reason he decided to cancel the Quran burning, and that he only heard about it a few weeks after Sept. 11.
"We thought if he wants to give a car, then why not take it and pass it on to another nonprofit organization," Jones said.
Remembering 9/11: Where things stand now As we remember those we lost on 9/11, we're looking at the ongoing battle to secure long term protection for first responders and the latest twists and turns in the cases of the accused terrorists.
Remembering 9/11: Where things stand now As we remember those we lost on 9/11, we're looking at the ongoing battle to secure long term protection for first responders and the latest twists and turns in the cases of the accused terrorists.
