Foes, soldier's mother counter protesters at funeral (MN fallen Rakkasan funeral)

Pioneer Press ^ | 2-24-06 | ap

[Rakkasan1]

Six members of a fringe church in Kansas picketed Thursday outside the funeral of a Minnesota soldier who was killed in Iraq, leading to a heated exchange with the grieving mother. The six men and women, standing outside the Anoka funeral for Cpl. Andrew Kemple, 23, who died Feb. 12 after his vehicle came under fire, are members of a church in Topeka, Kan., that espouses the belief that God is killing American soldiers because they fought for a country that tolerates homosexuality. They were countered by a group of 20 affiliated with the Patriot Guard Riders, a rapidly growing nationwide movement organized to offset the fringe group's message. "We're just trying to show honor and respect for families," said John Lutsch, a St. Cloud resident who heads the Minnesota branch of the Patriot Guard. "I was appalled when I read about these protests , that they'd use a solemn occasion like this as a forum for their views."

[Rakkasan1]

more of the anti-war dirt bag's drooling bloviation.

[Sunshine Sister]

You have accurately described the assholes from Topeka. I wish they would go away, but it's not likely to happen soon. I hope each and every one of them question their "reward" when they end up in hell for what they did.

[Emmet Fitzhume]

These people continue to hit new lows.

What kind of person would protest a funeral with shouting?

Sheesh.

[MNJohnnie]

Could we pass a law that restricts protest groups to being at least 5000 yards away from a funeral? They can protest they just cannot do it near the church. Right to Free Speech does NOT require us to LISTEN to their stupidity. What about the Funeral attenders right to Peacefully Assemble?

[CyberAnt]

"I was appalled when I read about these protests , that they'd use a solemn occasion like this as a forum for their views."


But .. the dem leadership showed them how to do this .. with the Wellstone funeral and the Corretta King funeral. Monkey see .. monkey do!

And .. they're not BAPTISTS! No genuine Baptist would ever do such a thing.

[I still care]

I am so glad to see the MSM is finally using the appellation "fringe church".

I got so ticked everytime they called them "Baptist church" like some old ladies had stopped their bake sale long enough to act like a bunch of loony Christians. This "church" is a cult.

[Doogle]

http://www.patriotguard.org/

[joe fonebone]

Calling all golfers.........just like in animal house, when the golf balls were hit at niedermeyer....line 'em up, and fire away!!!!! that will get rid of the ignorant, arrogant pieces of sh*t........

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Missouri just did.

[Jeff Head]

Six members of a fringe church in Kansas picketed Thursday outside the funeral of a Minnesota soldier who was killed in Iraq, leading to a heated exchange with the grieving mother.

How dare they! They have no respect and they have no shame...the sorry bastards.

[NYleatherneck]

The saddest part of this article, is that Cpl Kemple only got two lines at the bottom.

He deserves better...

[spinestein]

While the action of these kooks is angering, it seems to me that humiliating them might be the best way to make them go away.

This group of counter protesters has the right idea to form a buffer zone between the kooks and the funeral. Now if the kooks could have bags of crap thrown at them every time they show up maybe they'd get the message and stop showing up.

[MNJohnnie]

"Missouri just did"

Guess that why they call big MO the "Show Me" state.

[reagan_fanatic]

There are times where I wish someone would just dispatch Phelps and Co. straight to hell where they belong.


(Legal Disclaimer - since the entire Phelps clan consists of a bunch of inbred lawyers: I am in no way endorsing or calling for their murder)


>;)

[just me]

""Now if the kooks could have bags of crap thrown at them every time they show up""

These pieces of CRAP wouldn't even notice..

[BritExPatInFla]

more of the anti-war dirt bag's drooling bloviation.

These nutcases aren't protesting the war. I'd have more respect for someone who legitimatly opposes the war, and states their case with conviction. These wingnuts are trying to tie war deaths to moral issues. They're scum and have gotten too much press for too many years. Phelps needs to schedule a trip to go and visit his god.

[CMS]

I have a nice punch in the nose for these anti-war a$$holes if I ever run into them.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Sometimes we're first. Sometimes we get it right. Sometimes, we're even first and right at the same time.

[Rakkasan1]

I see little difference between them and the people who taunt soldiers at Walter Reed while soldiers attempt to heal.

Both claim to do it for "moral" reasons. They are the 'American Taliban'.