The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the First Amendment protects fundamentalist church members who mount attention-getting, anti-gay protests outside military funerals.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment protects fundamentalist church members who gather for attention-getting, anti-gay protests outside military funerals.
The Supreme Court voted 8-1 Wednesday in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. The decision upheld an appeals court ruling that threw out a $5 million judgment to the father, Al Snyder, of a dead Marine who sued church members after they picketed his son’s funeral.
“The mere fact that you take offense at words, or call yourself having your feeling hurt over words is not enough to shut up the speech.”
— Margie Phelps, Westboro Baptist Church
The U.S. Supreme Court sided with the words of Margie Phelps.
Margie Phelps, a daughter of the minister at Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, offers her reaction to the Supreme Court ruling that the First Amendment protects those who mount anti-gay protests outside military funerals.
Typical Banners at Funerals …
America is Doomed
God Hates America
Pray for More Dead Kids
God Hates Your Feelings
You’re Going to Hell
Thank God for Dead Soldiers
Thank God for IEDs
Thank God for 9/11
The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is an independent Baptist church known for its extreme stance against homosexuality and its protest activities, which include picketing funerals and desecrating the American flag. The WBC is widely described as a hate group and is monitored as such by the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center. WBC is headed by Fred Phelps and most members are part of his large family.