Funeral Protest (Angry Seaford, DE Residents Confront Phelps' Cult)

WMDT ^ | 5/21/2006 | Danya Bacchus

[Pyro7480]

Funeral Protest
By DANYA BACCHUS (SEAFORD, DE -- WMDT)

Hundreds of people lined the streets of Seaford, Delaware, many holding flags and showing their American pride for fallen solider Corporal.

But others weren't as patriotic.

While family and friends gathered to pay their final respects to fallen solider Corporal Cory Palmer, only blocks away was the scene of a protest.

Members of Westboro Baptist Church traveled all the way from Topeka, Kansas to protest.

Holding signs saying thank God for dead soldiers and God is America's Terror, "and you defy God and you spit in God's face and you teach your children to spit in God's face by pursuing adultery and fornication. And every type of unclean thing and going to war on the side of a country like the United States."

Nine people showed up to protest hundreds of others joined together to show their support for Corporal Cory Palmer and the United States and here's what they had to say.

"What these people are doing here ain't right because he died for his country, its just not right."

"Strangely enough why our soldiers go to foreign countries is to give those people the exact right to protest. But I most certainly think at a wake of a young man who gave his life for the country is not the appropriate time."

"We didn't understand why they would bring such an agenda to such a, hum to such a hero's burial."

As you can imagine tensions ran high during the protest.

Some people were even able to break through the police and charge the protestor's van, breaking a couple of windows.

There were no serious injuries.

And while the protestors may have traveled far to spread their message, the only message for most in Seaford was that Corporal Cory Palmer was a true American Hero.

[dinasour]

>AS MY GRANDFATHER USED TO SAY,"YOU ARE KNOWN BY THE COMPANY YOU KEEP".

I have always thought that these clowns are lefties putting on an act to discredit FReepers and ProtestWarriors and other legitimate right wing protest groups.

[Roccus]

The fact that their van was attacked proves that they were not protected adequately. They will have video tape of this. This is how they operate as many (though it seems like few here at FR) have found out.

[Gabz]

I'm not doubting they won't sue. The van that was attacked as they left belonoged to the local fire company, not to them.........their tires had been slashed earlier :)

[Roccus]

We had to deal with them locally at the Memorial for the Sago Miners. On their signs, 'dead miners' was substituted for 'dead soldiers'. Just shows that their cause is not political or religious, just monetary.
IIRC, the military Honor Guards at soldiers' funerals are briefed on these vermin and their agenda beforehand.

[Heatseeker]

Gabz, many thanks for the post, as I had didn't know a thing about this, and it was in the town I was born in!

I noticed links to the articles about it in the Delaware State News and News Journal didn't work so I corrected them; hope you don't mind.

[Gabz]

Thanks for fixing the links for me..........

[Pyro7480]

That's one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Thanks for posting it.

[BykrBayb]

Thanks for the ping, Gabz. Hopefully next time, somebody will let us know ahead of time. Not that they needed any more help this time. It seems to have gone just fine.

Disturbing times we're living in, ain't it?

[Pox]

Tensions reached a peak about 2:55 p.m. when one man stormed through a barricade and attacked one of the demonstrators, punching him several times.

I'd like to find out who this man is. I'd like to buy him a beer!

[BykrBayb]

Although state troopers and Seaford police officers were stationed between the two factions, at least one troop supporter broke through the line and began punching a Westboro member shortly before the protest was scheduled to end at 3 p.m.

Law-enforcement authorities quickly broke up the fight, took the attacker into custody and prevented other pro-America demonstrators from continuing the melee.

The situation escalated, however, as authorities hurried church members into a van borrowed from the Seaford fire department (the van that carried them to the park was inoperable after its tires were slashed).

Pro-military demonstrators circled the van, despite police attempts to keep them away, and some punched at the van and broke its side windows as the van drove away.

Is Seaford running a taxi service for anti-Americans? Was Westboro baptist church invited there, by any chance?

[alpha-8-25-02]

yes indeed phelps is one of thier strawmen.

now if you really want to be unhappy:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1630821/posts?page=79#58

[Centurion2000]

I wonder how long until some serously pissed off vets start putting rounds downrange towards little phelps.

[Gabz]

Very disturbing times....

I listen to WDEL online and so knew about it last week, I also post on the State News forum and there was much talk about it there.

[Gabz]

I'm all for Freedom of Speech, but these scum need to be silenced.

Unfortunately, Phelps is well aware of that sentiment and is using it to portray himself and his cultists as the victims, not the perpetrators.

[Gabz]

Is Seaford running a taxi service for anti-Americans?

I don't believe so. I would venture to say they did it to prevent tensions from escalating any further. I would venture to say the officers were not exactly happy with having to make the 3 arrests they did and sought to avoid having to make any more.

Was Westboro baptist church invited there, by any chance?

Not as far as I can tell...but they did have a permit, and at least were a few blocks away from the Church where the funeral was held.

[WanderingOisin]

Sick people.

[meyer]

"Some people were even able to break through the police and charge the protestor's van, breaking a couple of windows."

A few heros got through - too bad all they broke were a couple of windows.

[CTalks]

The key to dealing with people like Phelps and other cults involved in political issues is to take away their tax exempt status on any and everything they claim as a religious deduction- if they use it to promote a political agenda.
Make them admit what they are; a political movement with no religious structure or organization at all. The government should tax them like it taxes any political organization. Take away any welfare payments they're getting while they travel 7 days a week to protest. Civil litigation by victims of their harassment and (as has been reported) physical assaults should be rewarded with the highest jury awards possible.
It's not taking away their right to speak out and protest, but it makes them subject to the same laws and damages the rest of us would face if we did the things they do.
BTW, wikipedia has some serious and disturbing information about the Phelps gang.

Ctalks

[Threadbndr]

<> Yes, and it's very, very hard for them even then. LCPL J has put himself between the family and the protesters at least once. This was in the days before the Patriot Riders got active. I'm so sorry that our local shame has gone national. My late husband once stood between the WBC and the KKK on the KS state house grounds. The police (KS Highway Patrol in this case) are tasked with the WBC protection, and the Phelps spit their vitrol even at them. My hubby said he felt like he'd taken a swim in a cess pool.