Fallen Heroes Funerals Protested

Posted By Blackfive

This is so wrong and sad.  While SSG Christopher Piper was laid to rest properly and honorably (thanks to the Marblehead Police)...

Protest at Soldier's Funeral Brings a Massachusetts Town Together
A big turnout and police bagpipes drown out a Kansas group opposed to homosexuality

By Elizabeth Mehren
Times Staff Writer

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. — This proud old seaport, whose sons and daughters have fought in every American war, was grieving for Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Piper. The 43-year-old Green Beret died after his Humvee hit a roadside bomb June 3 in Afghanistan.

When word got out that demonstrators from Kansas planned to disrupt Piper's funeral Monday, residents vowed not to let them interfere with the tribute to their hometown hero.

"I was worried that it would fester anger," said Louise Moore, 39, fighting back tears and waving a small American flag. "Instead it got everyone together."

The 14 demonstrators from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., picketed Monday on a corner near the Old North Church, a Congregational parish founded in 1635, soon after Marblehead was settled. The followers of the Rev. Fred Phelps, who blame American tolerance of homosexuality for the Sept. 11 attacks and the resulting U.S. military casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, have targeted Massachusetts for protests because it is the only state where same-sex marriage is legal.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a lawyer for the Kansas church, said Monday that the funeral demonstration was nothing personal against Piper, who was not gay.

"We are protesting the sins of this nation," Phelps-Roper said. "That doesn't exclude him."

The group also has demonstrated at high school and middle school graduations across Massachusetts, contending that school curricula promote homosexuality.

On the corner of a narrow street lined with Colonial-era buildings, the Kansas contingent tried shouting its anti-homosexual message at mourners who overflowed from the church. But every time demonstrators spoke out, the 14-man Boston Police Department bagpipe band broke into thunderous sound....

This is the same group that protested Carrie French's funeral.  If you haven't been to Bubblehead's before, please see the link to understand the evil this group represents. 

It is a "church" led by Fred Phelps (his wife is their lawyer).

Phelps and his ilk have been spewing hate for a long time and this is one way of getting their message across and getting press.  Normally, I would say ignore them because that will irritate them more.  The Marblehead Police are to be commended for the bagpipe idea.  Good thinking, fellas.  I think you protected and served the rights of everyone.  I think this is the beginning of creative countering of Phelps.

But unfortunately they are making the families suffer indignities that should never be allowed.  SSG Piper and CPL French deserve better, too, but they would probably be more worried about the pain this causes their families.

Patrick from Gryphmon (who comments here occasionally) had a post about this for Carrie French.  He knows about Phelps and knows that the way to squelch Phelps is to ignore him.  Patrick has a very good post about the history and the evil of Phelps.

I call your attention to all of this for one reason - be vigilant.  More than likely, there will be more protested funerals.

If anyone knows of his groups plans in Chicago, please let me know.  We'll mount a peaceful but interesting psyops mission...I can think of 100 ways to drive Phelps crazy...Think of a truck breaking down on the street in front of the protesters... blocking their view...and, maybe...just maybe the truck will be painted with a giant "Phelps is Gay" sign (and someone should "own his site" with that, too)...and maybe inside the truck will be...

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Fallen Heroes Funerals Protested

This is so wrong and sad.  While SSG Christopher Piper was laid to rest properly and honorably (thanks to the Marblehead Police)...

Protest at Soldier's Funeral Brings a Massachusetts Town Together
A big turnout and police bagpipes drown out a Kansas group opposed to homosexuality

By Elizabeth Mehren
Times Staff Writer

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. — This proud old seaport, whose sons and daughters have fought in every American war, was grieving for Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Piper. The 43-year-old Green Beret died after his Humvee hit a roadside bomb June 3 in Afghanistan.

When word got out that demonstrators from Kansas planned to disrupt Piper's funeral Monday, residents vowed not to let them interfere with the tribute to their hometown hero.

"I was worried that it would fester anger," said Louise Moore, 39, fighting back tears and waving a small American flag. "Instead it got everyone together."

The 14 demonstrators from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., picketed Monday on a corner near the Old North Church, a Congregational parish founded in 1635, soon after Marblehead was settled. The followers of the Rev. Fred Phelps, who blame American tolerance of homosexuality for the Sept. 11 attacks and the resulting U.S. military casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, have targeted Massachusetts for protests because it is the only state where same-sex marriage is legal.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a lawyer for the Kansas church, said Monday that the funeral demonstration was nothing personal against Piper, who was not gay.

"We are protesting the sins of this nation," Phelps-Roper said. "That doesn't exclude him."

The group also has demonstrated at high school and middle school graduations across Massachusetts, contending that school curricula promote homosexuality.

On the corner of a narrow street lined with Colonial-era buildings, the Kansas contingent tried shouting its anti-homosexual message at mourners who overflowed from the church. But every time demonstrators spoke out, the 14-man Boston Police Department bagpipe band broke into thunderous sound....

This is the same group that protested Carrie French's funeral.  If you haven't been to Bubblehead's before, please see the link to understand the evil this group represents. 

It is a "church" led by Fred Phelps (his wife is their lawyer).

Phelps and his ilk have been spewing hate for a long time and this is one way of getting their message across and getting press.  Normally, I would say ignore them because that will irritate them more.  The Marblehead Police are to be commended for the bagpipe idea.  Good thinking, fellas.  I think you protected and served the rights of everyone.  I think this is the beginning of creative countering of Phelps.

But unfortunately they are making the families suffer indignities that should never be allowed.  SSG Piper and CPL French deserve better, too, but they would probably be more worried about the pain this causes their families.

Patrick from Gryphmon (who comments here occasionally) had a post about this for Carrie French.  He knows about Phelps and knows that the way to squelch Phelps is to ignore him.  Patrick has a very good post about the history and the evil of Phelps.

I call your attention to all of this for one reason - be vigilant.  More than likely, there will be more protested funerals.

If anyone knows of his groups plans in Chicago, please let me know.  We'll mount a peaceful but interesting psyops mission...I can think of 100 ways to drive Phelps crazy...Think of a truck breaking down on the street in front of the protesters... blocking their view...and, maybe...just maybe the truck will be painted with a giant "Phelps is Gay" sign (and someone should "own his site" with that, too)...and maybe inside the truck will be...

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Fred Phelps strikes again, and is drowned out by the sound of bagpipes. Hooah. [Read More]