Westboro freaks win a lawsuit settlement!?!?! WTH???

[PatsMom]

I think that the Westboro group is a vile gathering of hate mongerers. I also agree with those who say that the best thing to do is to ignore them. If they have no audience, they have no message.

From reading the decision, they were exercising their right of free speech. The same right that allows me to say that I despise their message allows them to air that message. It will be interesting to see what the Supreme Court has to say.

And FWIW, I would be out there with the Freedom Riders if requested. I know a few organized motorcycle clubs and they can be very intimidating if they choose.

 

[mickeylove2]

And when the nasty vile old man who leads that church dies, I hope there are dozens and dozens of protesters at his funeral. I for one will be there.

Hey neighbor~
I'll drive from MD with you to REJOICE at his funeral!!!

 

[FireDancer]

And when the nasty vile old man who leads that church dies, I hope there are dozens and dozens of protesters at his funeral. I for one will be there.

And your right to do so (obeying the laws of course) should be equally allowed.

 

[Magic Mom]

Thanks for the link. The court opinion brings up some interesting points (such as the father not seeing the group until he was home and watching the news).

Vile behavior? Yes indeed. Protected speech? Yes. Even vile speech is protected.

A group of klansmen couldn't "protest " outside the funeral af a black person could they? Why couldn't the same standards apply? This is a real question, not snark.

 

[Buckalew11]

I think this is probably one better left to the Ultimate Judge. "Vengenance is Mine saith the Lord."

I guess I get "free speech" but honestly, at a funeral? And for a loved one of mine? I'd be hopping mad. They threatened to come here a few years ago when a house fire killed 4 little children. I don't remember why they were saying they were coming here but they were and I remember the police did something to deter them. My memory is shot though...

And what they say is wrong and sick. Those signs they carry are untrue and cruel. But, i suppose the Lord will deal with them when their time is up.

 

[Deb in IA]

A group of klansmen couldn't "protest " outside the funeral af a black person could they?

I don't see any LEGAL reason why they could not, as long as they followed the same rules (ie. stay on public ground, no interference with the actual funeral activities, follow all local law and ordinances regarding protests).

The KKK famously marched in Skokie, IL.

 

[Magic Mom]

I don't see any LEGAL reason why they could not, as long as they followed the same rules (ie. stay on public ground, no interference with the actual funeral activities, follow all local law and ordinances regarding protests).

The KKK famously marched in Skokie, IL.

Was that recent? I thought hate speech was aginst the law. The walmart idiot comes to mind. What is he being charged with?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

On what legal grounds (not emotional) do you come to this conclusion?

Where did I say I think it is digusting based on the law? Dh is in Afghanistan now and if something should happen to him and they come protest at his funeral, I will do my best to crack them over the head with anything I can find.

 

[spacemermaid]

Anyone who would dishonor the memory of a serviceperson by using their funeral as a soapbox to protest ANYTHING, let alone issues that have nothing to do with the military, the war, etc, is a...well, it's not something I'd write where kids might read. Absolutely disgusting.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Saying just ignore them is all fine and great, in theory. I imagine it's darn near impossible in reality when it's the funeral of one of your loved ones though.

 

[CathrynRose]

Bill O'Reilly has offered to pay for the Fathers legal fees.

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/oreilly-marine-funeral-protesters/2010/03/30/id/354287

I was just about to post this.

I love the idea of a bunch of Harley riders coming in and drowning these monsters out. My DH would be out with them in a heartbeat, if there was a need around here.

They do. There was a boy here - lived literally just a few blocks from my house - who passed away in the war, and those guys came out and lined their bikes up all around the outside of the funeral home, lined up BIG American Flags, and stayed there the entire wake.

That "Church" is nothing more than disgusting hate mongers. Totally sick.

 

[CathrynRose]

Here's a video of bikers blocking them - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekQIumgq25s&feature=related

 

[spacemermaid]

Here's a video of bikers blocking them - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekQIumgq25s&feature=related

Right on! Thanks for posting that.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Here's a video of bikers blocking them - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekQIumgq25s&feature=related

Thanks for that. After watching, I looked for more videos.
This one is good, too. It shows how the bikers block out any visual of the protesters with a row of American flags. There are a couple of children holding signs in this one. What a pathetically sad bunch of people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DZbix25Oy0&feature=related

 

[iwrbnd]

How can this "church" call themselves a Baptist church? It's disgusting! I attend a Baptist church and we are nothing like that! How can God hate when God is love? That Westboro group makes me sick!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Was that recent? I thought hate speech was aginst the law. The walmart idiot comes to mind. What is he being charged with?

Skokie was an old case, but a significant case...and it technically involved Nazis (ever seen Blues Brothers, ever wonder why "Illinois Nazis" are a joke?). Regardless, the KKK gets sued basically on a yearly basis for protesting somewhere, and they habitually win. My reference earlier to the KKK protesting in a "liberal college town" was a reference to my own college days, when the KKK kept coming back to Ann Arbor again and again, because it got a rise out of people. So yes, this still goes on all the time.

Hate speech is not encapsulated in law in any federal or state jurisdiction I am aware of. I'm not familiar with your "walmart idiot", and am clearly too lazy to look him up, but DH is up on all these things. Apparently, he was not an employee, nor was he arrested for what he said. He was arrested for "trespassing" and using the store's PA without consent.