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Funerals aren't for picketing according to court judgement

Wiping the grin off Westboro Church

Thursday, 22 November 2007

Finally someone’s seen sense. This month saw the father of American soldier Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder stand firm against the bigots. And win.

Eleven million dollars were awarded to Albert Snyder of Pennsylvania whose son Matthew was killed in Iraq in 2006. And it was the Westboro Baptist Church who paid. Readers of the Real City Network blogs back in 2006 will know of this church’s track record. They believe the war in Iraq is God’s punishment for their nations tolerance of homosexuality and therefore picket the funerals of dead servicemen killed in Iraq. Hell’s Angels, documentary makers and the international press have all condemned the demonstrations and yet the Westboro Baptist continued with, what many would call, their unholy mission.

Testimonies from church members claimed they were just following their religious beliefs, whilst their attorney’s defence was that the First Amendment and free speech protected their abhorrent views. But the jury didn’t feel the same way, finding the Westboro Church and three of its leaders - Reverend Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis - guilty of invasion of privacy and causing emotional distress.

Whilst the attitudes may have been changed across the US with several states passing laws regarding the funeral protests, and Congress having passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries, the Westboro Baptist Church continued to spread their message. Even on the day of the jury finding against them church members staged a demonstration outside the court singing their interruption of God Bless America "God Hates America" whilst displaying placards stating "God is your enemy" and "God hates fag enablers."

But with a total bill of $11 million to pay and few assets to use, it looks like it’ll be some time before they get their paintbrushes and placards out again.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT_WHiHaXdw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O228AQRvcqQ&feature=related