by: Crystal Haynes Updated: Mar 9, 2016 - 11:16 PM

NORTH ATTLEBORO —

A member of a North Attleboro’s town meeting board is under fire for social media posts some describe as offensive and even racist.

Paul Couturier is an Iraq war veteran and is currently seeking re-election to the town meeting board. He said it’s his first amendment right to post what he wants to on Facebook.

"I'm an American. I have a freedom; first amendment freedom of free speech. If people don't like it; if they don't like what I post, they can de-friend me,” he said.

One meme depicts a shark saying "Throw me a Muslim", another shows a picture of a gorilla that reads "A rare glimpse of the First Lady on vacation."

"I need to ask these people where they were on 9-11. Okay? If one of their families were killed on 9-11 they'd be singing a different tune,” Couturier said.

Residents in town disagree though.

"I think that's wrong. In every respect,” Carol Mackey said.

"It's pretty offensive. You know. Like he was making fun of her ethnic, you know background,” Perry Chicoine said.

Many residents and other elected officials who spoke to FOX25, including Peter Gay of the North Attleboro TV advisory committee where Couturier also serves, condemned the posts.

Some called them outright racist but Couturier disagrees.

"Hell no. Hell no. When I was in- hell no, okay? And anybody who thinks that, okay, they need to have the guts to come up to me and ask me that. And I will prove them wrong,” he said.

There are some people who defend Couturier's right free speech in this case, hear from them on FOX25 News at 6 p.m