Dad of a fallen Marine perseveres against protests at military funerals

yahoo ^ | 3.30.10

[InvisibleChurch]

Washington – A father of a Marine killed in Iraq says he won't pay the legal fees of a protest group who picketed at his son's funeral in 2006 – at least not until he hears from the US Supreme Court on the matter. Albert Snyder, whose son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, was killed in Iraq, learned Friday that a federal appeals court is requiring him to pay more than $16,000 in legal fees to the Westboro Baptist Church, a Christian fundamentalist group that demonstrates during military funerals to gain attention for its antigovernment, antihomosexual message. The group rallied at Matthew Snyder’s funeral in March 2006 in Westminster, Md., chanting antigay slogans and carrying signs such as “Thank God for dead soldiers,” says Albert Snyder’s attorney, Sean Summers.

[Talisker]

Summers argues that his client’s right to peaceful assembly and freedom of religion were infringed by the protests and that, unlike at a public park where people are free to express themselves, a funeral setting draws a “captive audience” that requires attendees to be in a particular location – they can’t simply walk away.

Seems that the legal argument is excellent. I can't see how the Circuit Court ruled that general free speech rights trumped this - unless you throw that whole liberal court thing into the mix...

[Kartographer]

How about he shows up with this scum’s thirty pieces of silver during services backed by good sized crowd of Patriots.

[DesertRhino]

“How about he shows up with this scum’s thirty pieces of silver during services backed by good sized crowd of Patriots.”

Dude,,, wow. Powerful,,,,,

[TSgt]

Westboro Baptist Church should have been invaded by FBI agents and indicted for sedition.

[Waverunner]

Splinter Cell Scientologist??

[ilovesarah2012]

You are right, of course. I think we need a few large, angry mobs for a lot of occasions. I am sick and tired of these “elites” ruining OUR country!

[Redleg Duke]

Note how they hide behind children and women?

[freespirited]

IIRC most of the nutters in this family managed to make it through law school. This looks to me like a scam to get money and attention.

[KarenMarie]

I was reading on facebook... some of the lefty windbags are trying to tie this group in with the tea party ppl. Saying they ‘marched faithfully’ with the tea parties’ and there was tea party stuff all over the WBC website. Of course when called out for it... they claimed it was all taken down.

It is ridiculous but the left grabs on to it and spreads it around then the lazy and ignorant just accept it without looking further.

[Mrs. Don-o]

When I first saw your comment I thought you wrote “sphincter.” Of course, that suits the Phelps tribe to a T.

[chris37]

I would rather be drawn and quartered then burned for three days over a pile of hot coals than obey this POS “judge”.

[GraceG]

>> This is the same bunch of nutters that goes around saying “God hates fags”. Even if these crack pots are not for gays in the military, what does this have to do with our fallen soldiers-—who do not have anything to do with that policy (either way). Mr. Snyder don’t hand over a dime to these a-holes. <<

The bad thing about is the WBC is what people like Obama think all Conservatives are like these yahoos. Or they try to associate us with these throwbacks. Guilt by association, an alinsky tactic.

WBC can go straight to hell for their sick twisted actions at the funerals of our service men and women.

I am glad BOR has helped out, I wish he would do more for the other troops stil alive and facing legal issues due to trying to do their jobs overseas.

[gibsosa]

bfl

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

Any truth to the rumor that Phelps’ “congregation” is made up of family members and that he considers himself and his personal property all part of his “nonprofit” church organization and therefore pays no taxes?

I would think that the IRS might be interested in his financial affairs.

Regards,
GtG

[TNdandelion]

They should be reminded that the leader of this church is/was a Democrat and held a fundraiser at his home for Al Gore's Presidential bid. He (Fred Phelps) has run for office numerous times as.....a Democrat.

Let them chew on those facts for a bit! rofl

[InvisibleChurch]

ttt

[Waverunner]

That does work as well - kudo’s to you

[KarenMarie]

I had no idea. Thank you for that.

:)

[HiTech RedNeck]

“Delectable” epics sounds like something Satan would invent.

[Mila]

"......and held a fundraiser at his home for Al Gore's Presidential bid

You're right. Phelps supported Gore in his 1988 bid for the nomination, but by 1992 the bloom was pretty much off the rose and the Westboro freaks protested the Clinton-Gore ticket because of their position on gay rights. They also showed up at the funeral of Gore Sr.(Al's dad) and shouted, among other ugly things, "your dad's in hell". I'm guessing that today any sane person in politics, be their from the right or left, sanctions anything that the Phelps family does or says.