Who does not want Albert Snyder, father of Matthew Snyder (Marine Lance Corporal killed in Iraq) to win his case? Fred Phelps and the family members who protest have a good lawyer in the family.
But, really, at a ritualistically sacred space like a funeral
(in our culture, it is a separate space. Like, you can yell FIRE at a picnic and not get arrested; but you cannot yell FIRE in a theatre as it is a Space that can not be violated that way)
perhaps it is not free speech but psychological violence.
A Compelling Dissent?
or
alitos-weird-dissent-in-westboro.html
You decide.
READ entire ruling here:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-751.pdf
a couple of excerpts:
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES SNYDER v. PHELPS ET AL No. 09–751. Argued October 6, 2010—Decided March 2, 2011
For the past 20 years, the congregation of the Westboro Baptist Church has picketed military funerals to communicate its belief that Godhates the United States for its tolerance of homosexuality, particu-larly in America’s military. The church’s picketing has also con-demned the Catholic Church for scandals involving its clergy. Fred Phelps, who founded the church, and six Westboro Baptist parishion-ers (all relatives of Phelps) traveled to Maryland to picket the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq inthe line of duty. The picketing took place on public land approxi-mately 1,000 feet from the church where the funeral was held, in ac-cordance with guidance from local law enforcement officers. The picketers peacefully displayed their signs—stating, e.g., “Thank God for Dead Soldiers,” “Fags Doom Nations,” “America is Doomed,” “Priests Rape Boys,” and “You’re Going to Hell”—for about 30 min-utes before the funeral began. ..
JUSTICE ALITO, dissenting.
Our profound national commitment to free and opendebate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case. Petitioner Albert Snyder is not a public figure. He is simply a parent whose son, Marine Lance Corporal Mat-thew Snyder, was killed in Iraq. Mr. Snyder wanted what is surely the right of any parent who experiences such anincalculable loss: to bury his son in peace. But respon-dents, members of the Westboro Baptist Church, deprivedhim of that elementary right. They first issued a pressrelease and thus turned Matthew’s funeral into a tumul-tuous media event. They then appeared at the church, approached as closely as they could without trespassing,and launched a malevolent verbal attack on Matthew and his family at a time of acute emotional vulnerability. As a result, Albert Snyder suffered severe and lasting emo-tional injury.1 The Court now holds that the First Amendment protected respondents’ right to brutalize ...
But, really, at a ritualistically sacred space like a funeral
(in our culture, it is a separate space. Like, you can yell FIRE at a picnic and not get arrested; but you cannot yell FIRE in a theatre as it is a Space that can not be violated that way)
perhaps it is not free speech but psychological violence.
A Compelling Dissent?
or
alitos-weird-dissent-in-westboro.html
You decide.
READ entire ruling here:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-751.pdf
a couple of excerpts:
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES SNYDER v. PHELPS ET AL No. 09–751. Argued October 6, 2010—Decided March 2, 2011
For the past 20 years, the congregation of the Westboro Baptist Church has picketed military funerals to communicate its belief that Godhates the United States for its tolerance of homosexuality, particu-larly in America’s military. The church’s picketing has also con-demned the Catholic Church for scandals involving its clergy. Fred Phelps, who founded the church, and six Westboro Baptist parishion-ers (all relatives of Phelps) traveled to Maryland to picket the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq inthe line of duty. The picketing took place on public land approxi-mately 1,000 feet from the church where the funeral was held, in ac-cordance with guidance from local law enforcement officers. The picketers peacefully displayed their signs—stating, e.g., “Thank God for Dead Soldiers,” “Fags Doom Nations,” “America is Doomed,” “Priests Rape Boys,” and “You’re Going to Hell”—for about 30 min-utes before the funeral began. ..
JUSTICE ALITO, dissenting.
Our profound national commitment to free and opendebate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case. Petitioner Albert Snyder is not a public figure. He is simply a parent whose son, Marine Lance Corporal Mat-thew Snyder, was killed in Iraq. Mr. Snyder wanted what is surely the right of any parent who experiences such anincalculable loss: to bury his son in peace. But respon-dents, members of the Westboro Baptist Church, deprivedhim of that elementary right. They first issued a pressrelease and thus turned Matthew’s funeral into a tumul-tuous media event. They then appeared at the church, approached as closely as they could without trespassing,and launched a malevolent verbal attack on Matthew and his family at a time of acute emotional vulnerability. As a result, Albert Snyder suffered severe and lasting emo-tional injury.1 The Court now holds that the First Amendment protected respondents’ right to brutalize ...
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| Phelpses at KSU Arts and Scinces graduation |
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| Our group blocking the families' view of phelps for over a decade now. |
I have felt for a very long time that 'Phred' has been in need of a deeply penetrating.. vinegar and baking soda enema..Cleansing his soul from within- we could hope....?
ReplyDeleteand perhaps a facial reconstruction as a bonus..via the proverbial MAC TRUCK of God..style..
I will not even venture into VULTURE territory of this SCOTUS.. they are all crooks way worse than Nixon ever imagined he was... hahahahaha
were is a CIA Sponsored wet works team when you really need to shut up someone of this stupidity..OH wait.. It/They("Phred's Phags") take(s) Our collective minds off of the shit that is grabbing at our ankles in the shallow, dark, swift undertow...
IF..I had a Paralegal degree.. I think I could write up a brief that used any ammo in that family's possession.. and declare they have "explosives" in violation of: "Safe Explosives Act". but if this worked on them.. it would also backfire on the rest of Americans. tra la
All who want to come to A Date with Hate-- join us. We must come early to get the Front line; we block the view of visiting ksu parents and graduates with our messages of congratulations and peace. One year i was the designated early person and was there at 5:30 with a cuppajoe watching the early morning arrive. This year graduation is may 15th i think, a saturday at bramalge. The social work club is spearheading thisyear, along with the usuals from ksu womens center and campaign for nonviolence.
ReplyDeleteSo they are coming to visit us at Bramlage May 14th?
ReplyDeleteCome up with some good counter protest signs!
Need a base to build on? Try this.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-3o-best-anti-westboro-baptist-church-protest-s
David States. (thedave at ksu.edu)