Marine's father sues funeral demonstrators

[estranged4life]

Protesters say soldiers' deaths are God's penalty for U.S. tolerance of gays

GREENBELT, Md. - The father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters from a fundamentalist Kansas church filed an invasion-of-privacy suit against the demonstrators Monday.

It is believed to be the first lawsuit brought by a serviceman's family against Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., whose members routinely demonstrate at military funerals around the country.

Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, is seeking unspecified damages. The younger Snyder, 20, died March 3 after an accident in the Anbar province of Iraq. He was buried in Westminster, Md.

"We think it's a case we can win because anyone's funeral is private," Albert Snyder's lawyer Sean Summers said. "You don't have a right to interrupt someone's private funeral."

'I want it to stop'
After filing the suit, Snyder said at a news conference that he hoped a hefty judgment would leave the church members unable to afford travel for more protests.

"I want it to stop," he said of the protests. "I didn't know there were people in the world who did that."

Members of Westboro say the military deaths in Iraq are God's punishment for America's tolerance of gays. They typically carry signs with slogans such as "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for IEDs," a reference to the roadside bombs used by insurgents.

The church has inspired dozens of state laws banning funeral protests, including a Maryland law that did not go into effect until after Snyder's memorial.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokeswoman for the small congregation, said it is the first time Westboro has been sued by a soldier's family.

"We were exercising our First Amendment rights," she said.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[GypsySorcerer]

How dare these loons bring their hate-filled, bigoted **** to private memorials of servicemen and women? Disgusting pigs.

[seeker007nmss]

Tacky. Just Tacky.

[carrie721]

Tacky. Just Tacky.

not just tacky. also heinous!

[Johnny Stew]

I hope Mr. Snyder wins his lawsuit and takes every dime "Reverend" Phelps and his brainwashed family has. They are among the sickest, most vile human beings (and I use that term very loosely) to ever walk this earth.

[paleshadow]

Sometimes I just can't believe how insane people can be, but mostly how they all seem to find eachother and form groups.

[Johnny Stew]

I think everyone should familiarize themselves with Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka. It's an eye-opener.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

By the way, their congregation consists of less than 100 members... at least 90 of whom are related to "Reverend" Phelps either by blood or marriage.

And anyone with any doubt as to the degree of Phelps' insanity, need look no further than this quote:
"The Lord God Almighty killed [the people who died on 9/11], looked at them in the face, laughed and mocked at each one of them as he cast each one of them into hell".

[GateandGarden]

They have an entire photo gallery (http://www.godhatesfags.com/photos/thisyear.html) depicting their protests on their site.

Notice how they're actually sick enough to use small children in their games.

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/4108/20060326colorado68xu.jpg
http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/1876/20060520kansas20ft.jpg
http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/2669/20060529dc62ld.jpg

[Lala]

I had no idea people were going this far, although it isn't that hard to believe.

I am disgusted. Free speech is one thing, but what about a little human decency and compassion.

[carrie721]

They have an entire photo gallery (http://www.godhatesfags.com/photos/thisyear.html) depicting their protests on their site.

Notice how they're actually sick enough to use small children in their games.

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/4108/20060326colorado68xu.jpg
http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/1876/20060520kansas20ft.jpg
http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/2669/20060529dc62ld.jpg

hillary, ever been to godhatesfags.com? we are sooooooooooooo ****ed! lol.

seriously, they're really scary people. it still doesn't bother me that there are people out there who hate me, but it can get pretty freaky.

[GateandGarden]

hillary, ever been to godhatesfags.com? we are sooooooooooooo ****ed! lol.

I got the pics from there. It's really easy to forget that place is real, you know? It's just so damn ludicrous.

seriously, they're really scary people. it still doesn't bother me that there are people out there who hate me, but it can get pretty freaky.

I can't think of any scarier groups, though these people (http://www.nsm88.com/) make for stiff competition.

[Lala]

I think everyone should familiarize themselves with Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka. It's an eye-opener.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

By the way, their congregation consists of less than 100 members... at least 90 of whom are related to "Reverend" Phelps either by blood or marriage.

And anyone with any doubt as to the degree of Phelps' insanity, need look no further than this quote:
"The Lord God Almighty killed [the people who died on 9/11], looked at them in the face, laughed and mocked at each one of them as he cast each one of them into hell".

I started to read the article and got to their "Theology"...

Absolutely disgusting...and it doesn't even make sense. Scary.

[carrie721]

I got the pics from there. It's really easy to forget that place is real, you know? It's just so damn ludicrous.



I can't think of any scarier groups, though these people (http://www.nsm88.com/) make for stiff competition.

oh snap.

what the hell is wrong with people ...

[GateandGarden]

oh snap.

what the hell is wrong with people ...
Seems that they're a bunch of winners, huh?

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3317/startrash0wn.jpg

[estranged4life]

from the link Mr.Librarian posted (From wikipedia.org)

"The church recently avoided a funeral in McDonald County, Missouri due to a recently enacted law. Juvenile court authorities stated that using their children in their protests (as they often do) constituted child endangerment and the children could be put into foster homes."

In Oklahoma a similar law was passed this year, But the lawmakers were hoping/praying that those asshats from WBC would show up for a funeral with their children in tow, cause he children would have been taken from their parents and placed in DHS custody due to 'child endangerment'...

And wouldnt ya know it these chicken****s of WBC didnt show up...Darn, I was looking forward to seeing those kiddies being taken away from their relig-a-tarded parents.

[amber]

Sometimes I just can't believe how insane people can be, but mostly how they all seem to find eachother and form groups.

Hey! Don't talk about us like we're not here!:laugh:

But seriously. Now there should be a group following them around saying soldier's deaths are god's penalty for them being moronic, bigoted a**holes.

[Johnny Stew]

Now there should be a group following them around saying soldier's deaths are god's penalty for them being moronic, bigoted a**holes.My friend Wyatt lived in Topeka, where Phelps' "church" is based, and he always said that when Phelps died, he planned to picket outside his funeral with a sign that said, "Hot Enough For You Down There?"

I wish he had lived long enough to have that chance. For so many reasons.

[amber]

My friend Wyatt lived in Topeka, where Phelps' "church" is based, and he always said that when Phelps died, he planned to picket outside his funeral with a sign that said, "Hot Enough For You Down There?"

I wish he had lived long enough to have that chance. For so many reasons.

:) :) :) I like that guy.

[Johnny Stew]

:) :) :) I like that guy.You'd have loved him. He was extremely intelligent, articulate, compassionate, hysterically funny, and he had a mischievous streak like you wouldn't believe.

Ok, can't talk about this anymore. Sorry.

[amber]

You'd have loved him. He was extremely intelligent, articulate, compassionate, hysterically funny, and he had a mischievous streak like you wouldn't believe.

Ok, can't talk about this anymore. Sorry.

Okay, how bout this? I thought of you the other day when I went to look at a small pile of books someone had left on the sidewalk, and LO!

Hardy Boys - The Tower Treasure

!!! - pristine hardback condition, with the original cheesy paintings.

You wouldn't believe how excited I was. I felt like I had to tell you right away! Then I thought I was overreacting...:laugh:

Don't be sad, Stew. :xoxo:

Do you want me to read you an excerpt featuring their trusty gay pal Chet Morton? He's waiting in his Jalopy just for you!

[DavidMn]

These "People" are so disgusting.:mad:

[becca]

Whatever happened to "do unto others" and "he who is without sin cast the frst rock", or even the instruction to "love your enemy" and "turn the other cheek"? Of course anybody can call themselves Christian or Muslim but you'd think some who do have never read all of the books they supposedly are so inspired by. Mosly the Old Testament condemns sodomy by anybody, the reason likely being that no new little worshippers came of it. Although you wonder why the fertility god Baal was so frowned upon by Elijah, but then, what we call 'The Holy Bible' is actually a collection of books from extremely different times and places decided upon as worthy of inclusion by a bunch of guys a long time ago who had a lot of major disagreements.

[mikeschmike]

relig-a-tarded

I want that word added to the dictionary, immediately. Sooooooooo many people fall under that category. Phelps, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, etc.

[JazmenFlowers]

every time I see a sign like that or hear of something like this, it makes me so sad that people are so full of hate. those that believe in a book that supposedly teaches about the greatest love can not extend that to another human. I fear a lot of them ARE brainwashed and the rest are just too stupid to care.

I hope I never see one of these people or someone holding one of these signs or a protest like this...in person...ever. like they say, hell hath no fury like a bitch on the warpath.

[carrie721]

hell hath no fury like a bitch on the warpath.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

jazzy, i would not want to piss you off!!

[Johnny Stew]

Okay, how bout this? I thought of you the other day when I went to look at a small pile of books someone had left on the sidewalk, and LO! Hardy Boys - The Tower TreasureThat's so cool, Amber... what an awesome find! I think I remember reading that book when I was a kid.
Yep, I just checked and I still have my copy. :thumbsup:

Don't be sad, Stew. :xoxo:Thanks, sweetie. :xoxo:

[DavidMn]

every time I see a sign like that or hear of something like this, it makes me so sad that people are so full of hate. those that believe in a book that supposedly teaches about the greatest love can not extend that to another human. I fear a lot of them ARE brainwashed and the rest are just too stupid to care.

I hope I never see one of these people or someone holding one of these signs or a protest like this...in person...ever. like they say, hell hath no fury like a bitch on the warpath.MEEOOWWW! YOU GO GIRL!
:nod: