Kansas church member (yes that church) to be prosecuted by Sarpy County

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10298017

Published Monday | March 31, 2008

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sarpy County prosecutors have formally spelled out why they are prosecuting a member of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas for flag mutilation.

The prosecutors explained the charges against Shirley Phelps-Roper in a two-page court filing Monday morning.

The case stems from the Westboro Church's protest at the funeral of Nebraska Army National Guard Spc. William "Bill" Bailey in Bellevue last June.

Prosecutors said the flag desecration charge is based on Phelps-Roper's decision to let her 10-year-old son stand on an American flag and her choice to wear a flag as a skirt that drug on the ground.

Phelps-Roper is a member of the Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church, whose members believe that U.S. troop deaths in Iraq are punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

The protesters carry signs bearing such slogans as "Thank God for dead soldiers." Followers say they are entitled to protest at soldiers' funerals under the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.


FULL story at link.

Good side is that they CAN protest in this country. No water board for citizens of the US that we know of. Bad news is what they are protesting about and why.

Bellevue Cemetery is just down the street from our house. Marta runs the web page: http://www.steveandmarta.com/graveyards/bellevue/bellevue_1.htm

In fact she runs the pages for all of the Omaha area: http://www.steveandmarta.com/graveyards/gravenew.htm

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. There are limits to free speech

I believe Phelps violated the law on flag etiquette. This should keep her tied up in court, as least for a while. If anti-war protesters can be arrested for wearing tee shirts with names and numbers on them, I think Phelps can be prosecuted for disrespecting the flag.

[jmowreader]

2. I can't believe I'm saying this

Shirley better walk free from this one. A FLAG DESECRATION case? The law they busted her on is unconstitutional on its face.

Westboro Baptist "Church" may be the most repugnant organization in the country, but they've got civil rights too...whether they choose to abuse them or not.

I would love to see the ACLU take this case on the side of WB"C" and, of course, to send a battery of gay lawyers to work their case.

[blondeatlast]

3. I do so hate to agree with you on this--but you are on target.

Let them "proudly" exploit the flag in their own way. It shows them for the ignorant wastes of carbon that they are.

As to WBC and the ACLU, politics and civil rights frequently make for the strangest of bedfellows, indeed.

[jmowreader]

11. Everything they do, does that...

These...I guess they're people...go to soldiers' funerals with signs that say "Thank God for dead soldiers." If that doesn't prove you're a waste of carbon, nothing will.

Why In HELL can't a conservative legal group--I know there are some--figure out some way to represent the family of one of the soldiers whose funeral they protested in an Emotional Distress case? This one would be open-and-shut. Guy gets sent to illegal war, guy gets killed in illegal war, guy gets sent home in casket, casket arrives at church for funeral and his family has to be driven past Shirley Fucking Phelps holding up a sign that says "Thank God for dead soldiers." Come on. Everyone on the planet, with the exception of Osama bin Laden and the members of WBC, are distressed by THAT message! I want a conservative group to be the ones to do it. He's your problem, guys; you fix it.

[Canuckistanian]

4. Yeah, you gotta hold your nose and disagree with this one

The "slippery slope" potential here is HUGE.

If this law were to be turned against a progressive liberal in a legal show of dissent, we'd all be screaming bloody murder.

I'd LOVE to see the Phelps' sued in civil court for emotional distress, but a federal or state case?

Nope, he's too careful, and they are a whole FAMILY of very aggressive lawyers.

[GOPBasher]

10. I do think they can be prosecuted for protesting AT the soldiers funerals.

There are certainly privacy issues when members of that "church" protest right at the soldiers funerals. And I do think they can be prosecuted for it. However, you're right about the flag desecration charge. They're disgusting people, but they have the right to say what they want.

[rateyes]

14. Fred Phelps is a lawyer.

He'll defend himself. And, I'm with you on free speech.

[cornermouse]

5. You don't know these people.

If I remember correctly, 20 years or so ago one of the Kansas state officials made them mad so they basically tied her phone up for days and made it impossible for anyone else to get a call through. They don't believe in freedom of speech for anyone but themselves.

[baby_mouse]

6. Well that's just nuisance calling isnt it?

Couldn't she get the phone company to block them? I thought you could do that.

[cornermouse]

7. I read this probably at least 20 years ago, maybe more

It was in the Capitol Journal. As I remember she worked in government, the state I think, and she was upset because he tied up the phone so no one could get through. This was before the internet and although I have looked, I haven't found anything on the net.

[MuseRider]

8. They also tied up

all the government and business fax machines. They drove this community nuts then sued us over and over.

[cornermouse]

9. I can remember people being quite angry.

I moved away and didn't really hear anything about him for years. I was sort of surprised he's still living there.

[Omaha Steve]

12. Just like neo Nazi's marching in Jewish neighborhoods

They have that right here in the US. It doesn't mean I like or agree with it.

[Bandit]

13. I don't believe there should be criminal charges for this but Civil, hell yes

There should be a penalty for causing such mental distress to family members and the family should be able to sue for such. A wife can sue her husband for a divorce for duress and mental cruelty so why shouldn't a family member sue this bunch for the same thing. This is mental cruelty at it's worst..