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ACLU and Westboro Hate Cult Challenge Missouri Protest Ban

Once again we come to the debate over whether we should limit speech that infringes upon the rights of others. I have expressed how I feel about this determined hate cult before, so suffice it to say I think they are ignorant and filled with hate. They are deranged cultists. They think that dead soldiers in a war against terror is punishment from God for America tolerating gays. Their ignorance infringes upon the rights of these fallen heroes’ family and friends to peacefully assemble and mourn their loved ones. As much as I hate what they say, I do think they have the right to say it. However, since it infringes upon the rights of others I have no problem putting limits on when and where they may do so.

Here’s the latest story on two unhinged groups teaming together.

A Kansas church group that routinely protests at military funerals across the country filed a suit in federal court Friday, claiming the Missouri law banning such pickets infringed on the members’ religious freedoms and right to free speech.

Missouri’s law bans picketing and protests “in front of or about” any church, cemetery or funeral establishment from an hour before a funeral begins until an hour after it ends. A number of other state laws and a federal law, signed in May by President Bush, bar such protests within a certain distance from a cemetery or funeral.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Jefferson City. It will test lawmakers’ ability to target the Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church, constitutional scholars say.

“I told the nation as each state went after these laws that if the day came that they got in our way, that we would sue them,” said Phelps’ daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, the lead plaintiff and a spokeswoman for the Topeka-based church. “At this hour, the wrath of God is pouring out on this country.”

The church claims God is allowing soldiers, coal miners and others to be killed because the United States tolerates homosexuals. Westboro Baptist has outraged mourning communities across the U.S. by showing up at soldiers’ funerals with signs that read “God Hates Fags.”

In the lawsuit, the ACLU claims the wording of Missouri’s ban, which restricts protests “about” any funeral establishment, seeks to limit the group’s free speech based on the content of its message.

These people are absolutely insane!
Captain’s Quarters:

Defenders of the ACLU will proclaim this as proof of their dedication to free speech, but that’s nonsense. The ACLU does not take every case that has free-speech implications, let alone Constitutional issues. Fred Phelps could get a lawyer on his own; the ACLU and its donors have no obligation to assist him in mocking the loss of family members at funerals. The ACLU has put itself on par with these soulless freaks, and their donors should take note that their money now supports the Phelps traveling hate show.

Also see Hooah Wife
Blue Crab Boulevard

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Posted by Jay on July 22, 2006 6:15 pm

» Filed Under ACLU, Border Control/Homeland Security, News

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6 Responses to “ACLU and Westboro Hate Cult Challenge Missouri Protest Ban”

  1. Dethanial on July 22nd, 2006 8:05 pm

    Some day someone is going to take some real action and there will be less church members and ACLU lawyers.

  2. AShiningCity on July 22nd, 2006 9:08 pm

    I hope you aren’t making any violent threats Dethanial.

    Because someone might take it that way… and that would be a very dumb thing to do.

    I refuse to allow violent extremists highjack this noble website. I will call them out if I see them.

  3. Dethanial on July 23rd, 2006 11:10 am

    AShiningCity you can take it as you may see. There was violence in the revolutionary war that got us the freedom that we have now. I did not say that I would use violence but if Phelps ever comes close to a funeral of any member of my family there will be a serious consultation.

  4. kerwin_brown on July 23rd, 2006 1:20 pm

    See! The ACLU does back Christians. :-)

  5. kerwin_brown on July 24th, 2006 4:05 am

    I still think putting limits on groups like the Westboro Baptist could backfire and be applied to pro life groups. From what I know the Patriot Guard and the like do a good job defending the sensibilities of the bereaved and show that their loved one’s sacrifice is appreciated at the same time.

  6. Margaret Romao Toigo on July 24th, 2006 2:31 pm

    I have to agree with kerwin_brown about how limits placed upon the Westboro Baptists could backfire and be applied to pro-life and other groups. This could be one reason why the ACLU has taken this particular case.

    I also prefer the way the Patriot Guard exercises their First Amendment rights — not to mention that they must be quite a stirring sight to behold. May God bless them and their mission.

    I suspect, however, that there is more to the ACLU’s defense of Fred Phelps and his minions (may the Lord have mercy upon them) than simply defending free speech, for the ACLU is also a strong supporter of gay rights.

    Some may ask, if the ACLU is such a big protector and defender of gay rights, then why would they want to support a group that is so very hateful toward homosexuals?

    Well, believe this or not, people like Fred Phelps actually help to promote gay rights by causing mainstream folks who still oppose the recognition of some gay rights to want to distance themselves from such hateful and disgusting extremism.

    Whenever and wherever this dynamic occurs, those who wish to appear more reasonable and moderate than the radicals — and who doesn’t want to be seen as more reasonable and moderate than Fred Phelps and his ilk — will actually soften their anti-gay rights rhetoric and maybe even make a few concessions, such as, declaring that they think anti-gay workplace discrimination is wrong and that homosexuals ought to be allowed to serve openly in our military. And a few may even concede to recognizing same-sex marriage, as long as it is called by some other name!

    Each time this happens, that old societal pendulum gets pushed, ever so gently, towards the full recognition of gay rights.

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