Westboro Baptist Church Members Will Protest In Saint Joseph, Missouri Again
I've mentioned the Military Funeral protest held by members of the Westboro Baptist Church several times in the past. The last time would have been when I found out they were being taken to court (sued) by Albert Snyder, the Father of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder who lost his life while serving in Iraq. They have came to Saint Joseph, Missouri to protest a couple of times now. The first time was when they came to protest at the funeral of Spc. Edward Lee Myers who also died while serving in Iraq. Later they returned to protest an ordinance the Saint Joseph City Council passed which ban protesting at a funeral. Since that time Missouri State legislators have passed a similar law. You would think that would have put an end to their protest. A July 5, 2006 St. Joseph News-Press article says it didn't. They will be coming back to Saint Joseph to protest the funeral of Pfc. Brian Bradbury of Saint Joseph who lost his life while serving in Afghanistan.
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7/5/2006
Church to protest soldier's funeral
St. Joseph News-Press
The military funeral of Army Pfc. Brian Bradbury has not escaped the notice of a Topeka church, which plans a protest at the Saturday service in St. Joseph.
The Westboro Baptist Church sent out press releases early Tuesday morning announcing the protesters' intent. A Westboro protest at a military funeral in St. Joseph last year led to the passage of a city ordinance and two pieces of Missouri legislation restricting the activities.
Followers of the Kansas church and its pastor, the Rev. Fred Phelps, believe God punishes American troops because of the nation's tolerance for homosexuality. Their protests at military funerals have angered grieving families and stirred elected officials to find a constitutionally sound recourse.
The St. Joseph City Council passed a measure in December making it illegal to protest near a funeral within an hour of its start and finish. The Missouri General Assembly, with St. Joseph lawmakers serving as sponsors, passed two measures of similar language, limiting the protest to 300 feet away from the funeral site.
Cmdr. Jim Connors of the St. Joseph Police Department seemed unsurprised on learning of the Westboro announcement Tuesday.
"We figured at some point they were going to try the Missouri law, either that or the city's," he said.
The state legislation goes by "Spc. Edward Lee Myers Law," namesake of a St. Joseph soldier who died in Iraq last year and whose funeral attracted Westboro protesters.
Mr. Bradbury, a 22-year-old soldier who died June 21 near Naray, Afghanistan, will be memorialized at 11 a.m. Saturday at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Olive Branch Cemetery in White Cloud, Kan.
The Westboro contingent plans the Word of Life protest at 10:15 a.m. and picketing at the cemetery at 11:45 a.m.
On Sunday, the protesters shift to Kirksville, Mo., where the funeral of Marine Pfc. Rex Page will be held at the town middle school. Mr. Page died June 28 in Iraq.
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I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'd support anyone's right to protest a just cause but there are some things we just should not do. Holding a protest at a funeral would be one of them. I don't care if it's the funeral of a mass murderer. Their friends and families have suffered enough without becoming the victims of terrorist, which is what I feel these protesters are. I don't know if Mr. Snyder will win his law suit or not, I pray he does. If his works maybe other families will follow his lead and the protesters will soon find that they no longer have the time or the money they need to hold their protest.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
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7/5/2006
Church to protest soldier's funeral
St. Joseph News-Press
The military funeral of Army Pfc. Brian Bradbury has not escaped the notice of a Topeka church, which plans a protest at the Saturday service in St. Joseph.
The Westboro Baptist Church sent out press releases early Tuesday morning announcing the protesters' intent. A Westboro protest at a military funeral in St. Joseph last year led to the passage of a city ordinance and two pieces of Missouri legislation restricting the activities.
Followers of the Kansas church and its pastor, the Rev. Fred Phelps, believe God punishes American troops because of the nation's tolerance for homosexuality. Their protests at military funerals have angered grieving families and stirred elected officials to find a constitutionally sound recourse.
The St. Joseph City Council passed a measure in December making it illegal to protest near a funeral within an hour of its start and finish. The Missouri General Assembly, with St. Joseph lawmakers serving as sponsors, passed two measures of similar language, limiting the protest to 300 feet away from the funeral site.
Cmdr. Jim Connors of the St. Joseph Police Department seemed unsurprised on learning of the Westboro announcement Tuesday.
"We figured at some point they were going to try the Missouri law, either that or the city's," he said.
The state legislation goes by "Spc. Edward Lee Myers Law," namesake of a St. Joseph soldier who died in Iraq last year and whose funeral attracted Westboro protesters.
Mr. Bradbury, a 22-year-old soldier who died June 21 near Naray, Afghanistan, will be memorialized at 11 a.m. Saturday at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Olive Branch Cemetery in White Cloud, Kan.
The Westboro contingent plans the Word of Life protest at 10:15 a.m. and picketing at the cemetery at 11:45 a.m.
On Sunday, the protesters shift to Kirksville, Mo., where the funeral of Marine Pfc. Rex Page will be held at the town middle school. Mr. Page died June 28 in Iraq.
***************************
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'd support anyone's right to protest a just cause but there are some things we just should not do. Holding a protest at a funeral would be one of them. I don't care if it's the funeral of a mass murderer. Their friends and families have suffered enough without becoming the victims of terrorist, which is what I feel these protesters are. I don't know if Mr. Snyder will win his law suit or not, I pray he does. If his works maybe other families will follow his lead and the protesters will soon find that they no longer have the time or the money they need to hold their protest.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
posted by David Schantz | 6:53 PM
7 Comments:
The Shrub just signed a law that its illegal to protest at a military funeral correct?
The religious right is so far out there..they need oxygen tanks to breathe.
I heard one of the Westboro people talk on Hannity & Colmes (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnG0eFwlmgI&search=Hannity). They are really out there.
North Carolina law prohibits the carrying of a weapon at funerals, even if one has a concealed permit. Now I know why.
Following the 'logic' of these so-called Christians, would it not behoove them to travel to Saudi Arabia and openly pray for their government since it condemns homosexuality?
These folks suffer from some sort of Jim Jones style psychosis. Let them pull one of their protests during a funeral at Arlington. It would be educational for all.
There are just some things one does not do. To praise the killers of American soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen is blasphemy in and of itself. It is, in my mind, treason.
This is typical and ghastly. I hope there will be a large turnout to counter-demonstrate. It is a little ironic, however, that Rev. Phelps and Pastor Zahnd aren't that far apart in terms of politics. I wonder if Pastor Zahnd is aware of that irony.
The Westboro Baptist Church Members are about the lowest form of human life I can imagine, but I think by calling them terrorists is dangerous.
I'm waiting for the day when what I publish on my blog will get me labeled as a terrorist. I've already been called "treasonous" and a "terrorist sympathiser" so it wouldn't be much of a leap.
WCBMs are about the lowest form of human life, but terrorists are the lowest.
There were about 5000 people lined up and down the streets of kirksville on Sunday Afternoon. There were a total of 20 protestors being blocked by people and drowned out by motercycles.
No one try to stop these people? Check out http://assistedlivinglittlerockarkansas.com
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