Phelps still wants to protest Soldiers funerals

[almaty 19]

People targeted by Fred Phelps:

Since the early 1990s, Phelps has targeted several individuals and groups in the public eye for criticism by the Westboro Baptist Church after their deaths. Prominent examples include President Ronald Reagan, Diana, Princess of Wales, Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, National Football League star Reggie White, Sonny Bono, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Atheists, Islam and Muslims, murdered college student Matthew Shepard, the late children's television host Fred Rogers, Australian actor Heath Ledger, Jews, Catholics, Swedes, the Irish and US soldiers killed in Iraq. He has also targeted the Joseph Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington, Massachusetts, center of the David Parker controversy. In 2007 he stated that he would target the late Rev. Jerry Falwell's funeral.

even mr. rogers

[Chica Yeyé 41]

People targeted by Fred Phelps:

Since the early 1990s, Phelps has targeted several individuals and groups in the public eye for criticism by the Westboro Baptist Church after their deaths. Prominent examples include President Ronald Reagan, Diana, Princess of Wales, Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, National Football League star Reggie White, Sonny Bono, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Atheists, Islam and Muslims, murdered college student Matthew Shepard, the late children's television host Fred Rogers, Australian actor Heath Ledger, Jews, Catholics, Swedes, the Irish and US soldiers killed in Iraq. He has also targeted the Joseph Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington, Massachusetts, center of the David Parker controversy. In 2007 he stated that he would target the late Rev. Jerry Falwell's funeral.

even mr. rogers

Now, THAT is just not cool

[almaty 19]

it was a lovely day in the neighborhood..until that chopf##k and his church of hate showed up

[nowhereman 1]

The ACLU is at it again.

It's against the law to be drunk in public but disturbing the peace of a funeral is covered by a constitutional right.

Posted on Thu, Jan. 08, 2009

Shirley Phelps-Roper sues St. Joseph over ordinance banning protests at soldiers’ funerals

By MARK MORRIS

The Kansas City Star

The daughter of Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps has sued the city of St. Joseph over its ordinance banning protests at soldiers’ funerals.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, asks a judge to declare the ordinance and its enforcement unconstitutional.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri filed the suit on behalf of Shirley Phelps-Roper. She said the suit is the only such action pending against a municipality in the country, although many others have passed similar laws.

“They are standing the shoes of municipalities all over this country,” Phelps-Roper said.

Phelps-Roper is pursuing a similar suit against the state of Missouri. On Oct. 31, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that members of the Topeka-based church could picket soldiers’ funerals in Missouri. A lower court earlier had upheld the constitutionality of Missouri’s laws banning such protests.

Westboro church members — who believe that God is punishing America for tolerating homosexuality, abortion and divorce — have complained that such laws violate their freedom of speech. They have drawn harsh criticism across the country for picketing at funerals of servicemen and servicewomen.

A spokeswoman for City Attorney Lisa Robertson said St. Joseph had not yet been served with the suit and declined to comment.

Danno you and I disagree on many issues, but I find it disgusting when people protest at a military service member's funeral (soldier technically refers to Army personnel only). The service member died serving his/her country & whether you agree or disagree with our government's political decisions the service member should not be disrespected in such a manner. In my mind this supercedes freedom of speech... if you want to protest do it at the proper place & time (a funeral is NOT the appropriate forum for politics).

[nowhereman 1]

It's interesting how just a very few people can gain so much attention by merely doing outlandish things.

We see this in this case as well as "artists" who have little talent beyond shock, and others who shtick is working the race angle.

This is the result of "visual" media. Visual media thrives not so much on meaningful stories but on captivating photos or video.

I'm not trying to change the subject, but what you just said can be applied to your girl Coulter.

[nowhereman 1]

In my mind this supercedes freedom of speech... if you want to protest do it at the proper place & time (a funeral is NOT the appropriate forum for politics).

150% disagreed. We live in a free society, and that means having to put up with douche-baggery sometimes. You can't force someone to be respectful, even when it's clearly the appropriate thing to do.

Well I'm a service member & this topic is very personal to me. If someone did this at a buddy's funeral I would kick the living bejesus out of every single protester. Freedom of speech has limits & as far as I'm concerned this crosses the line.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

In my mind this supercedes freedom of speech... if you want to protest do it at the proper place & time (a funeral is NOT the appropriate forum for politics).

150% disagreed. We live in a free society, and that means having to put up with douche-baggery sometimes. You can't force someone to be respectful, even when it's clearly the appropriate thing to do.

Well I'm a service member & this topic is very personal to me. If someone did this at a buddy's funeral I would kick the living bejesus out of every single protester. Freedom of speech has limits & as far as I'm concerned this crosses the line.

As far I'm concerned - its certainly innappropriate and offensive. But as far as the law goes, they're within their rights. If you got into a fight at the funeral - you'd be arrested. They wouldn't be.

[tmma 467]

Well, at my funeral, I'm having the Honor Guard point their rifles in Phelps et al's direction ( with live ammo).

Edited January 13, 2009 by tmma

[Ban Hammer 14,619]

Well, at my funeral, I'm having the Honor Guard point their rifles in Phelps et al's direction ( with live ammo).

in that case, i'd recommend the salute with cannons loaded with wp.

[nowhereman 1]

In my mind this supercedes freedom of speech... if you want to protest do it at the proper place & time (a funeral is NOT the appropriate forum for politics).

150% disagreed. We live in a free society, and that means having to put up with douche-baggery sometimes. You can't force someone to be respectful, even when it's clearly the appropriate thing to do.

Well I'm a service member & this topic is very personal to me. If someone did this at a buddy's funeral I would kick the living bejesus out of every single protester. Freedom of speech has limits & as far as I'm concerned this crosses the line.

As far I'm concerned - its certainly innappropriate and offensive. But as far as the law goes, they're within their rights. If you got into a fight at the funeral - you'd be arrested. They wouldn't be.

You are right... and I would sit in jail with a smile on my face while the protesters lie in hospital beds wondering if it was worth it (it would be for me).

[Jasman0717 9]

Well, at my funeral, I'm having the Honor Guard point their rifles in Phelps et al's direction ( with live ammo).

in that case, i'd recommend the salute with cannons loaded with wp.

How about the nuclear gun from the other post

[Chica Yeyé 41]

In my mind this supercedes freedom of speech... if you want to protest do it at the proper place & time (a funeral is NOT the appropriate forum for politics).

150% disagreed. We live in a free society, and that means having to put up with douche-baggery sometimes. You can't force someone to be respectful, even when it's clearly the appropriate thing to do.

Well I'm a service member & this topic is very personal to me. If someone did this at a buddy's funeral I would kick the living bejesus out of every single protester. Freedom of speech has limits & as far as I'm concerned this crosses the line.

As far I'm concerned - its certainly innappropriate and offensive. But as far as the law goes, they're within their rights. If you got into a fight at the funeral - you'd be arrested. They wouldn't be.

You are right... and I would sit in jail with a smile on my face while the protesters lie in hospital beds wondering if it was worth it (it would be for me).

and your friends' family will always remember how you contributed to the spectacle of ruining a moment of remembrance for their son.

I mean, I agree with you for the most part --- the Phelpazoids are freaks. But the way you would respond says a lot about you, not about them. Peace out.

[nowhereman 1]

In my mind this supercedes freedom of speech... if you want to protest do it at the proper place & time (a funeral is NOT the appropriate forum for politics).

150% disagreed. We live in a free society, and that means having to put up with douche-baggery sometimes. You can't force someone to be respectful, even when it's clearly the appropriate thing to do.

Well I'm a service member & this topic is very personal to me. If someone did this at a buddy's funeral I would kick the living bejesus out of every single protester. Freedom of speech has limits & as far as I'm concerned this crosses the line.

As far I'm concerned - its certainly innappropriate and offensive. But as far as the law goes, they're within their rights. If you got into a fight at the funeral - you'd be arrested. They wouldn't be.

You are right... and I would sit in jail with a smile on my face while the protesters lie in hospital beds wondering if it was worth it (it would be for me).

and your friends' family will always remember how you contributed to the spectacle of ruining a moment of remembrance for their son.

I mean, I agree with you for the most part --- the Phelpazoids are freaks. But the way you would respond says a lot about you, not about them. Peace out.

Hopefully I will never have to do this... chances are I won't. However I'm guessing that at some point a similar situation may occur & if it does I will feel sorry for the family & won't have an ounce of remorse for what happened to the protesters. I would also hope that a jury would slap the attacker on the wrist for his actions, seeing that he did the wrong thing for the right reasons.

[nowhereman 1]

Get there before the protesters arrive, note where they're parking, and while they're off protesting, drop a little sugar bomb in their gas tanks.

You don't have to go to jail to get even.

How about mines with exploding dog #######?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

it was a lovely day in the neighborhood..until that chopf##k and his church of hate showed up

Mr. Rogers would encourage Mr. Phelps to talk about those bad feelings of his and perhaps he'd like to try a little make believe. RIP Fred