Posted on 05/23/2006 9:23:24 AM PDT by Abathar
SEAFORD, Del. -- Five people in Delaware face criminal charges after clashing with members of a Topeka church protesting the weekend funeral of a Marine killed in Iraq.
Police stood between the protesters and counter-demonstrators, some of whom tossed eggs, stones and water bottles at the picketers from Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church. The church believes U.S. casualties in Iraq are God's retribution for America's support of homosexuality.
The church members were greeted by about 1,000 people Sunday outside the funeral of Marine Corp. Cory Palmer, who died earlier this month from injuries suffered in Iraq.
One of the five was charged with assault while the others were cited for criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.
Despite the trouble, police said area residents showed "good restraint." Church members plan to return to Seaford on Wednesday to picket the funeral of another Marine killed in Iraq.
I was hoping for axe handles chains, not eggs and insults...
This is not a church but rather a group of lawyers looking to create a situation to sue someone and make some money.
What despicable people..
Fred Phelps group is despicable. It is not Christian. And their going to funerals is horrid. But folks need to be aware that the way this group funds itself is to take civil action against people who attack them. I can understand folks wanting to pop somebody for their behavior. But that is a criminal act. But now this group will sue those five who assualted them, and will probably win damages.
Just leave this Phelps group alone. What God is going to do with them is far worse than anything we can do to them.
they are common criminals who are disturbing the peace and inciting to riot, and they should have been prosecuted long ago.
DelMarVa Ping.
They have a permit to be back for another funeral on Wednesday. That family issued a statement yesterday asking the good folks of Seaford to NOT allow a repeat of what happened Sunday.
"Fighting words" are not protected.
And if going to a funeral and saying that you are glad that someone's beloved son is dead is NOT an example of fighhting words, it's hard to know what is.
Unfortunately, the evil side of my brain is working today. I would suggest that when one of the church members' family dies, that we picket their funeral, saying that it it God's punishment that they are picketing our military.
Turnabout it fair play, correct?
This is why the DC Chapter's rules for protesting are so important.
You are absolutely correct. The best way to handle them is to encircle them so that no one can see their filthy signs, nor hear their epithets.
I'd be tempted to just slip the casket out to another location for a very private funeral and burial. I'd let the people who really count know at the last moment.
Exactly. At some point, a wise police department should tell Phelps' gang, at the outset, that they are engaged in incitement to riot, give them the alloted time to disperse, and then arrest them after they refuse to disperse.
"Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church"
Fred Phelps' Westboro CULT
There fixed it. These people are not a church and most certainly not Baptist
How can they prevail with such deliberately and outrageously provocative behaviour, designed to be as offensive as possible? Don't some states have "Fighting Words" doctrines where even killing is winked at?
We all know there are things you just cannot do or say without consequences. What they are doing is like wearing an SS uniform to a Bar Mitzva, or a Klan outfit to some Black Power rally. How could anyone possibly care what happens to them?
It surely is only a matter of time, and when it happens I hope whoever does it makes a clean sweep and leaves no plaintiffs.
Get a bunch of people to picket with signs saying "God Hates Fred Phelps 'Cuz Fred's a Fag!"
~()):~)>
Dead people can't sue anyone.
L
These people need to understand, if they are believers in Christ. They should represent Christ.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.