Anti gay funeral protests

Funeral Protests The First

He began by saying the issue before the court is whether the speech here, the messages on the pickets, was a matter of public concern or private concern. Protests done by Westboro Baptist Church are characterized by desecration of the American flag, hate speech funeral by members to onlookers, and members holding signs with predominantly homophobic and anti-American statements.

As you recall, there was a protest, picketing outside of a church in which a fallen Marine was being — a funeral service was being held for a fallen Marine. And to a much anticipated free speech ruling from the U. Supreme Court. And the lower appellate court held that the First Amendment did protect this speech and overturned a jury verdict in favor of the family.

They may contain errors. The high court also heard arguments today in a case involving former U. Attorney General John Ashcroft. The court voted in. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the opinion today. The justices today ruled in favor of a controversial religious group known for its anti-gay rhetoric.

My first thought was eight justices don't have the common sense God gave a goat. The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the First Amendment protects fundamentalist church members who mount attention-getting, anti-gay protests outside military funerals. It upheld that the First Amendment does protect the rights of protesters to express their views outside military funerals, no matter how offensive the message.

Attorney Margie Phelps is the daughter of the church's founder. The family of the Marine sued the Westboro Baptist Church, claiming that the demonstration inflicted emotional distress upon them. Facts Fred Phelps and his followers at the Westboro Baptist Church believe that God punishes the United States for its tolerance of homosexuality, particularly within the military.

We found out today that we can no longer bury our dead in this country with dignity. The nation's high court ruled to uphold the free speech rights of a controversial protest of religious protesters known for anti-gay rhetoric at military funerals.

Gay we knew that the only way not to uphold our position was to anti, not only the First Amendment but years of jurisprudence under the First Amendment. Well, Marcia Coyle of The National Law Journal was in the courtroom for the argument and for the decision, and she joins us now.

And this morning, in the courtroom, he read a summary of that opinion. Judy Woodruff talks with Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal about the implications of the highly anticipated and emotionally charged case. To demonstrate their beliefs, Phelps and his followers often picket at military funerals.

It is the protesting of military funerals that led to the organization receiving much attention for its small size. The First Amendment protects the right of the Westboro Baptist Church to hold anti-gay protests outside military funerals, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

That's a basis for a lawsuit, for damages. Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. And it was very clear, I think, from his tone that he really wants people to understand how the court reached the decision, and that the court's sympathy, if not the law, is with the Snyders.

It's a personal injury.

Snyder v Phelps Wikipedia

Judy Woodruff talks with. The nation's high court ruled to uphold the free speech rights of a controversial group of religious protesters known for anti-gay rhetoric at military funerals. She had argued the case before the court, and she spoke about her victory from Topeka, Kan.

We follow the law. Albert Snyder, the father of the slain Marine at the center of the case, later expressed his disappointment with the ruling. The ruling backs an appeals court. So, I think it's fair to say, Marcia, that a lot of people have a hard time understanding this decision handed down, the free speech case.