History students
Do you think that protesters at military funerals should be protected by the First Amendment?WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is getting involved in the legal fight over the anti-gay protesters who show up at military funerals with inflammatory messages like "Thank God for dead soldiers."
The court agreed Monday to consider whether the protesters' message, no matter how provocative and upsetting, is protected by the First Amendment. Members of a Kansas-based church have picketed military funerals to spread their belief that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq are punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
The justices will hear an appeal from the father of a Marine killed in Iraq to reinstate a $5 million verdict against the protesters, after they picketed outside his son's funeral in Maryland.
A jury in Baltimore awarded Albert Snyder damages for emotional distress and invasion of privacy, but a federal appeals court threw out the verdict. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the signs contained "imaginative and hyperbolic rhetoric" protected by the First Amendment.
The funeral for Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder in Westminster, Md., was among many that have been picketed by members of the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. Westboro pastor Fred Phelps and other members have used the funeral protests to spread their belief that U.S. deaths in the Iraq war are punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. One of the signs at Snyder's funeral combined the U.S. Marine Corps motto with a slur against gay men.
Other signs carred by members of the Topeka, Kan.-based church said, "America is Doomed," "God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11," "Priests Rape Boys" and "Thank God for IEDs," a reference to the roadside bombs that have killed many U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The case will be argued in the fall.
The case is Snyder v. Phelps, 09-751.
posted by Mr. Carlisle at 8:16 AM
14 Comments:
I think this is very disrespectful of the protesters. Funerals are difficult times for families and families should not have to put up with this harrassment.
7:48 PM
That's disgusting. Technically, I see how the protesters are practicing their rights. However, they claim to be religious people and they mock the deaths of soldiers? Why aren't THEY out there fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan? It's completely disrespectful and that Baltimore court was completely right awarding that man damages for emotional distress. Regardless of whether one supports homosexual rights or not, it's not like the loved ones can change if the soldier was gay or not. So why are these protesters punishing these grieving families?
9:56 PM
All 20 something members of the Westboro Baptist Church need to be dealt with somehow, not just because of their disrespect towards soldiers and ridiculous extremist views, but in a way for their own safety. One of these days they're going to protest at the wrong funeral and some redneck with a gun is going to kill Phelps-Roper and what few followers that crazy "person" has and no one is going to care because they did the people of the United States a favor. I wasn't aware that the UK had a list of people who are banned from their country until today when I looked her up, and on that list are a bunch of terrorists and other people who commit hate crimes. This is funny because Phelps-Roper is a protester and got BANNED from a COUNTRY the majority of murders don't make that list and she managed to do it holding signs up that is simply amazing she should get an award. My only thoughts are that it's a shame we can't exile her to some 3rd world country that wont understand the babble coming out of her mouth.
10:49 PM
This is one of the few things that really irritates me. I don't care if the law protects them, they all should be punched in the face. I absolutely hate it when people express negative thoughts about our loved ones dying for the cause of others, when they aren't honorable to fight themselves. It drives me nuts. I'm going to have dreams tonight about me hitting a few of these protesters. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.
11:37 PM
That above comment is Robby Dusevoir. Don't ask..
11:38 PM
who cares if the laws protect them or not, this is clearly a disrespect to our soldiers. They deserve way better treatment and honor, considering the things they do for our country. seriously
11:32 AM
I believe that the 1st amendment should not enforce such acts, people need to have a sense of respect when trying to get their message across. Showing up with signs in funerals is totally disrespectful, and people should comprehend that they need to come up with better ways to express their ideas.
-Daniel Hernandez
4:58 PM
This is so horrible! Why would anyone think this is okay to do. This, in my opinion is not even a matter of which right protects them. This is so rude and disrespectful and it should never be okay, no matter is you have the right to do it or not!
8:32 PM
This is rediculous those people are so inconsiderate and rude! Isn't the funeral place guarded. Couldn't those guards tell those people to go onto the sidewalk or leave? I think that these people should be allowed to protest on the sidewalk as long as they dont disrupt the service or harass anybody.
10:04 PM
It doesn't make any sense, but I guess if that's what they think they're allowed to do that. They're not doing anything harmful, although it doesn't help people at the funeral, and it's bound to make people angry. But the government can't make exceptions for people who the majority doesn't agree with. That defeats the purpose of free speech, no matter how crazy it is.
11:21 PM
Zachary Parker
I think this is so dumb. My grandparents work at the VFW in Redmond and they were help putting a funeral together for a soldier that died who was from Madras. And it was like a huge even. And my grandma said that there is a group of protesters that go around to funerals like that and protest the war. But there is this biker group that comes and runs away the protesters or just drowns out there yelling and stuff with their bikes. So like the biker came, and thank god the protesters didn't. I think it is horrible that they would do that at a funeral. Because the person that died is fighting for their right to protest. At least they could do is let them have their own funeral.
8:12 PM
I cannot believe that there are people out there that have this much disrespect. Our soldiers do a lot for our country and they do not deserve this kind of treatment.
11:31 AM
I totally agree with Rimma. I think that the Amendment that gives us our right of free speech should be taken to a certain extent. Everyone knows what is too far. I personally don't believe that people should pay for other's actions. I have a hard time understanding how they think that it is payment for homosexuality. It is absolutely ridiculous!! I think that it is wrong to speak about dead in a rude or harsh way because, honestly, give them a break... they're dead!
12:38 PM
I believe that even if it is a military funeral families will be there as well and they shouldn't have to put up with people disrespecting their loved ones. I isn't fair to the family members as well as the people who actually came to pay their respects.
6:54 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home