SCoTUS rules in favor of Westboro Protesters

[MikeBjerum]

tombogan I agree with protecting our Rights and how it is Constitutional, but it does not follow previous rulings concerning "hate," and hateful speech is specifically addressed in the opinion.

I still question where the Rights of a grieving family come into play when a group is protesting someone else, but aiming their anger at this family. 

As a side note, I think the main reason the case went the way it did was the same reason it went all the way to SCOTUS - The family did not know of the protest until someone brought them the video shot by a news crew.  The Westboro group was far enough away and there was enough shielding by supporters that the family never noticed it the day of the service.  However, there are many cases every year where if it weren't for community support or the Patriot Guard the Westboro group would be prominent and a hindrance to the funeral process.  That is why the Patriot Guard only comes on family request and works all details out with the family and funeral director. 

The Guard will remain silent unless needed to raise the volume level to drown out the protesters, and that is when the Harleys are nice!  That or Blackhawks - I participated in one service where they did the committal service in front of the church before the body was flown to Arlington.  After a service in the church the body was placed on a bier in the street behind the funeral coach, there were 100 chairs for family, and military on three sides.  As pastor finished his part, the honor guard stepped forward and we began to hear the thumping (being staffers we knew what was coming).  Three Blackhawks came down the street at about fifty feet, they took positions one each over each group of honor guards and hovered through the entire honor ceremony and placing the casket in the coach (protesters a block away went unnoticed after this).  They then escorted the procession to the airport (125 miles) and landed on the airfield at the shipping depot.  The soldiers from the Blackhawks formed an honor guard while the casketed body, escort and family went through processing and boarded their plane.  Imagine the emotions on that flight after watching that take place while you are being boarded!

[Solus]

Thanks for that description, m58.  

Every Soldier is worth that and every family member deserves to see that value expressed like that.   Hell, every American needs to see that value expressed like that.

We can never repay the debt.

Thanks also for  your part is this expression. You do us all an Honor.

[billt]

I agree with the ruling. With that said, this is insane! Where else but in Illinois?  Bill T.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/02/illinois-officials-spar-order-make-list-gun-owners-public/?test=latestnews

[tt11758]

I agree with the ruling. With that said, this is insane! Where else but in Illinois?  Bill T.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/02/illinois-officials-spar-order-make-list-gun-owners-public/?test=latestnews

MAYBE in Kalifornistan, but otherwise, nowhere.

[PegLeg45]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

As much as I don't care for their (Westboro) message, these simple words speak volumes.

Agree 100%.

I hope my previous posts have not been misconstrued as not supporting the 1st Amendment and, ultimately, the SCotUS decision. I might not like it, but it is the right decision.

My previous posts have been merely pointing to things like what M58 said that it is becoming dangerously close, at times, to being in a place where the difference between actions and words have to be determined. Keying on the words in the 1st Amendment about 'peaceably assembling'....at what point does it go beyond words and into incitement? Sadly, after an incident where someone is injured or killed most probably.


Thanks also Tom for the reminder of the ruling about the Nazi march. I remember it now, but it had slipped my mind.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

FQ, the Flag burning ruling was wrong because it is not based on The US Constitution, but instead is based on UN BS.

M58 posted "tombogan I agree with protecting our Rights and how it is Constitutional, but it does not follow previous rulings concerning "hate," and hateful speech is specifically addressed in the opinion."

But this ruling is in fact perfectly in line with the Skokie ruling.

[kmitch200]

Remember that the first amendment is not there to protect the speech you agree with, but to protect the speech that to are against.

+1