Homophobe Religious Nuts Disrupt Kentucky GI's Funeral

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Homophobe Religious Nuts Disrupt Kentucky GI's Funeral

Via NY Transfer News Collective All the News that Doesn't Fit

AP - Sep 30, 2006

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FUNERAL_PROTESTS?SITE=ORPEN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Protesters face off at Ky. GI's funeral

By SAMIRA JAFARI

Associated Press Writer

LONDON, Ky. (AP) -- Demonstrators squared off Saturday outside a

funeral home where a service was being held for a solider, the first

such scene in Kentucky since a judge suspended a state law that required

a 300-foot buffer zone for protests at military funerals.

Dozens of demonstrators surrounded London Funeral Home, waved American

flags and exchanged shouts for more than an hour before the service with

members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., which tours the

country protesting at military funerals.

Church members held signs across the street that read, "America is

doomed," "Thank God for 9/11," and "Thank God for dead soldiers."

The family of Sgt. 1st Class Charles Jason Jones had invited a

half-dozen groups to wave full-size American flags, express their

support of U.S. soldiers and honor Jones after hearing about the

church's plans to protest the funeral, according to military officials.

More than 200 mourners, including Gov. Ernie Fletcher, filled the chapel

to pay tribute to the 29-year-old Kentucky National Guardsman, who was

found dead in his quarters in Iraq on Sept. 20 from causes not related

to combat. The military is investigating the death.

Little was said of the demonstration during the funeral, though the Rev.

Charles Taylor told mourners that the presence of the Westboro

protesters was "a dishonor."

"I feel sorry for them," he said, adding, "I appreciate the folks

holding the flags."

Last week, U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell wrote that the state law

could restrict the free speech rights of people in nearby homes,

sidewalks and streets, even if they cannot be seen or heard by funeral

participants.

The law, passed this year, was aimed at members of the Kansas church,

which claims the soldiers' deaths are a sign of God punishing America

for tolerating homosexuality.

About a dozen states have similar laws, and Congress passed a law this

year prohibiting protests at military funerals at federal cemeteries.

Joe Gilliland was protesting to honor Jones and his family. When asked

about Westboro, he said, "I think they have rights just like we do. They

have the right to do whatever they want to, but I'm not sure this is the

right place for it."