Westboro Baptist aim to preach at Tech funerals

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I'm just a bit interested in what this cult would think if this Cho guy turned on them instead of the students and faculty at VT. I mean, what if someone went in to their meeting facility and shot all of them but maybe....2 people.
Then the rest of the world comes reigning down on them at the funerals for them and didn't let their loved ones greive for them.

I just feel that doing something that blattent.....gez whatever backlashes they get if they go through with protesting the funerals, they deserve. I laugh at them, I'd laugh in their faces if I could. I can't believe they really think they're making America any better. If anything, they're making it much worse.
Showing off America at some of it's finest moments--protesting innocent lives funerals? damn.....grow up, stop sharring a brain, and grow a pair...
 
Finally, a victory of sorts over those people. Of course the only true victory would be if this decision sets a precedent regarding their future behavior (obviously Phelps doesn't think so) and what they can get away with, unfortunately I don't think anything can get rid of them for good. I just read in the paper this morning that they are planning to picket the play "Laramie" in MA this month.

It better not be overturned.



BALTIMORE — Members of a fundamentalist Kansas church ordered to pay nearly $11 million in damages to a grieving father smiled as they walked out of the courtroom, vowing that the verdict would not deter them from protesting at military funerals.

Members promised to picket future funerals with placards bearing such slogans as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."

"Absolutely, don't you understand this was an act in futility?" said Shirley Phelps-Roper, whose father founded the Westboro Baptist Church.

The group believes that U.S. deaths in the Iraq war are punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. They say they are entitled to protest at funerals under the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.

Albert Snyder sued the Topeka, Kan., church after a protest last year at the funeral of his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq. He claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event.

A jury agreed. On Wednesday, the church and three of its leaders Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Davis were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress. Jurors awarded Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages.

Snyder, of York, Pa., said he hoped other families would consider suing.

"The goal wasn't about the money, it was to set a precedent so other people could do the same thing," he said.

Appearing on NBC's "Today" show Thursday, Sndyer said that while his son was fighting for freedom for Iraqis, "my son did not fight for hate speech.

"And that's basically what it is," he said of the church's protest. "Everybody's under the impression that the First Amendment gives them the right to do anything, say anything any where, any time. And along with the First Amendment also comes responsibility."

Snyder said that on the day of the funeral, he didn't see the protesters or their signs, only the tops of the signs. "But a lot of people at the church did see it," he said. "And it was splattered all over the newspapers the next day."

It's unclear whether Snyder will be able to collect the damages.

The assets of the church and the defendants are less than a million dollars, mainly in homes, cars and retirement accounts, defense attorney Jonathan Katz said. The church has about 75 members and is funded by tithing.

Craig Trebilcock, one of Snyder's lawyers, had asked jurors to question the truthfulness of the defendants' financial documents, one of which show Phelps-Davis having only $306 in the bank. He noted that Phelps-Davis is a practicing attorney, who could afford to travel to spread the church's message.

"Rebekah Phelps-Davis has $306? She must be using Priceline.com. It doesn't make any sense," Trebilcock said.

The attorney had urged jurors to award damages that would send a message to the church: "Do not bring your circus of hate to Maryland again."

Trebilcock later called the verdict "Judgment Day for the Westboro Baptist Church."

"They're always talking about other people's Judgment Day. Well, this is theirs," he said.

Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict, while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles.

They are confident the award will be overturned on appeal, Phelps said.

"Oh, it will take about five minutes to get that thing reversed," he said.

Another of Snyder's attorneys, Sean Summers, said he would tirelessly seek payment of the award. "We will chase them forever if it takes that long," he said.

A number of states have passed laws regarding funeral protests, and Congress has passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries. Snyder's lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by the family of a fallen serviceman.
 
MrsSpringsteen said:
Finally, a victory of sorts over those people. Of course the only true victory would be if this decision sets a precedent regarding their future behavior (obviously Phelps doesn't think so) and what they can get away with, unfortunately I don't think anything can get rid of them for good. I just read in the paper this morning that they are planning to picket the play "Laramie" in MA this month.

It better not be overturned.



BALTIMORE — Members of a fundamentalist Kansas church ordered to pay nearly $11 million in damages to a grieving father smiled as they walked out of the courtroom, vowing that the verdict would not deter them from protesting at military funerals.

Members promised to picket future funerals with placards bearing such slogans as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."

"Absolutely, don't you understand this was an act in futility?" said Shirley Phelps-Roper, whose father founded the Westboro Baptist Church.

The group believes that U.S. deaths in the Iraq war are punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. They say they are entitled to protest at funerals under the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.

Albert Snyder sued the Topeka, Kan., church after a protest last year at the funeral of his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq. He claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event.

A jury agreed. On Wednesday, the church and three of its leaders Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Davis were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress. Jurors awarded Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages.

Snyder, of York, Pa., said he hoped other families would consider suing.

"The goal wasn't about the money, it was to set a precedent so other people could do the same thing," he said.

Appearing on NBC's "Today" show Thursday, Sndyer said that while his son was fighting for freedom for Iraqis, "my son did not fight for hate speech.

"And that's basically what it is," he said of the church's protest. "Everybody's under the impression that the First Amendment gives them the right to do anything, say anything any where, any time. And along with the First Amendment also comes responsibility."

Snyder said that on the day of the funeral, he didn't see the protesters or their signs, only the tops of the signs. "But a lot of people at the church did see it," he said. "And it was splattered all over the newspapers the next day."

It's unclear whether Snyder will be able to collect the damages.

The assets of the church and the defendants are less than a million dollars, mainly in homes, cars and retirement accounts, defense attorney Jonathan Katz said. The church has about 75 members and is funded by tithing.

Craig Trebilcock, one of Snyder's lawyers, had asked jurors to question the truthfulness of the defendants' financial documents, one of which show Phelps-Davis having only $306 in the bank. He noted that Phelps-Davis is a practicing attorney, who could afford to travel to spread the church's message.

"Rebekah Phelps-Davis has $306? She must be using Priceline.com. It doesn't make any sense," Trebilcock said.

The attorney had urged jurors to award damages that would send a message to the church: "Do not bring your circus of hate to Maryland again."

Trebilcock later called the verdict "Judgment Day for the Westboro Baptist Church."

"They're always talking about other people's Judgment Day. Well, this is theirs," he said.

Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict, while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles.

They are confident the award will be overturned on appeal, Phelps said.

"Oh, it will take about five minutes to get that thing reversed," he said.

Another of Snyder's attorneys, Sean Summers, said he would tirelessly seek payment of the award. "We will chase them forever if it takes that long," he said.

A number of states have passed laws regarding funeral protests, and Congress has passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries. Snyder's lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by the family of a fallen serviceman.
Click to expand...

Those "people", and I use that term loosely, make me sick.:| The fact that people can say and do those things about other human beings is the height of depravity.
 
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I heard about this this morning. I'm glad they are being sued. Protesting homosexuality at funerals for people who aren't homosexual? Protesting at funerals is messed up either way. But sheesh.

I'm very glad they didn't come to VT. I don't understand how people can be so heartless.
 
MrsSpringsteen said:
\



BALTIMORE — Members of a fundamentalist Kansas church ordered to pay nearly $11 million in damages to a grieving father smiled as they walked out of the courtroom, vowing that the verdict would not deter them from protesting at military funerals.

.
Click to expand...

This is good news for people that have been harrassed indiscrimantly.

I hope the

hateful registered Democrat Fred Phelps pays dearly:

11966_512.jpg
 
Where did you read that he's a registered Democrat, and why would that matter? Hate is hate, and we all know that it knows no political affiliation. All parties are capable of it.
 
MrsSpringsteen said:
Where did you read that he's a registered Democrat... All parties are capable of it.
Click to expand...

I'm well connected in many circles and know a few ppl.

dbs
 
Oh, OK-keepin it on the downlow, right? :shh:

This is what it says on Wikipedia-somehow I have a hard time believing that he's still a Democrat. Maybe, considering how bizarro the whole thing is. I am ashamed of Al Gore.

Democratic Party

Phelps has run in various Kansas Democratic Party primaries five times, but has never won. These included races for governor in 1990, 1994, and 1998, receiving about 15% of the vote in 1998.[34] In the 1992 Democratic Party primary for U.S. Senate, Phelps received 31% of the vote [35] Phelps ran for mayor of Topeka in 1993 [36] and 1997. [37]

Support for Al Gore

Phelps supported Al Gore in the 1988 Democratic Party primary election.[38] In his 1984 Senate race, Gore opposed a "gay bill of rights" and stated that homosexuality was not something that "society should affirm".[39] Phelps has stated that he supported Gore because of these earlier comments.[40] According to Phelps, members of the Westboro Baptist Church helped run Gore's 1988 campaign in Kansas. Phelps' son, Fred Phelps Jr., hosted a Gore fundraiser, which Al and Tipper Gore attended, at his home in Topeka.[10][40] Fred Phelps, Jr. served as a Gore delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention.[40][41] Gore spokesman Dag Vega declined to comment; "We are not dignifying those stories with a response."[42]

Opposition to Al Gore and Bill Clinton

During the 1992 presidential campaign, Phelps protested Hillary Clinton during a campaign speech in support of the Clinton-Gore ticket at the University of Kansas on October 14, 1992. In Bill Clinton's second presidential campaign, Phelps and the Westboro church also opposed Clinton and Gore because of the administration's support for gay rights. The entire Westboro congregation picketed a 1997 inaugural ball[43], denouncing Gore as a "famous fag pimp."[44] In 1998, Westboro picketed the funeral of Gore's father, screaming vulgarities at Gore and telling him, "your dad's in Hell."[44]

In the aftermath of the election, in an incident that would be repeated years later when Phelps circulated a petition to outlaw homosexual work protection, many of the Kansas Democrats who had cast votes for Phelps came forward to express their distaste for him. They said that Phelps had lied about his intentions to numerous constituents, using double-talk and fuzzy language to confuse them; neglected to mention his stances on race, religion, and homosexuality, and campaigned mainly on the platform of a "good ol' boy" Southern gentleman and retired lawyer unfairly prosecuted by the system.[45]
 
U2democrat said:
I was appreciative of Gov. Kaine's angry reaction yesterday when he was asked about gun control policies...I forgot his exact words but it was something along the lines of 'for those who are already turning this into a political debate I have nothing but disdain for you.' Thank you. Let the emotional and physical wounds heal first.
Click to expand...

Oooh. Nicely said :up:.

Members of a fundamentalist Kansas church ordered to pay nearly $11 million in damages to a grieving father smiled as they walked out of the courtroom, vowing that the verdict would not deter them from protesting at military funerals.
Click to expand...

Ughhhhhhhhhhhh... *Reads Phelps-Roper quotes as well...:crack:*

People like this seriously make me want to vomit. Sorry. I just...I just don't get it. They're allowed to do this, yes, but...gah. It just pisses me off so, SO much. Grow the hell up already.

Angela
 
I think that approaching it as an invasion of privacy makes it less clear cut. They should have the right to spew their brand of faith based hatred loud and clear though.
 
MrsSpringsteen said:
So you think Democrats would give him the most mileage?
Click to expand...

Yes; proportionately speaking I think there are more loons in the Democrat Party, hence he can hide better. :sexywink:

dbs
 
diamond said:


This is good news for people that have been harrassed indiscrimantly.

I hope the

hateful registered Democrat Fred Phelps pays dearly:
Click to expand...

What the HELL does that have to do with anything??

You're suggesting that the Democratic Party agrees with Fred Phelps by the sheer fact that he might have a membership card?

Jesus, db. You're a nice guy, and you don't deserve a lot of the crap you take in this forum, and I've got a lot of respect for you as a result. And I'm sorry to say this but you've really hit rock bottom with this post. Come on. This is inane, and I think you know that. I know you've got a brain, so please use it.

:|
 
DaveC said:


What the HELL does that have to do with anything??
Click to expand...

Nothing.

DaveC said:


You're suggesting that the Democratic Party agrees with Fred Phelps by the sheer fact that he might have a membership card?

DaveC said:


Jesus, db. You're a nice guy, and you don't deserve a lot of the crap you take in this forum...
Click to expand...

I did it only to prove a point.

That's all.
:hug:

Although there could be .765943% more loons in the in the Democratic Party.

;)

dbs
Click to expand...
 
I don't think there was any point to prove there, but I don't wish to incite a debate/argument, so I'll leave it be. :hi5:
 
The Westboro Baptist Church is probably the single most despicable group of human beings in America right now.
 
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