Supreme Court: Raucous Funeral Picketers Allowed

[burningsponge]

at 0:22 look at that guys face after he says the 8 people have the common sense of a goat, he can hardly contain his laughter!

[gravel38]

there's a fine line on anything you do that you don't cross. Even with freedom of speech. In my personal opinion, not only did the protesters cross that line , but so did the 8 idiots in the supreme court. AND THEY CALL THAT JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A FUCKING JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[robz797]

yeling fire at the movies.

LETS SAY I HAVE JUST LOST MY ONLY SON THAT WAS IN THE ARMY, I AM AT HIS FUNERAL AND UNDER EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, THEESE ASSHOLES ARE YELLING THAT GOD THATS SOLDER'S AND THE NORMAL BULLSHIT, DOSENT THAT CONSTATUTE EMOTIONAL HARM TO ME , I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SUE THE HELL OUT OF THEM FOR EMOTIONAL DISSTRESS,

PART 2 IF THEY THINK THE COUNRTY'S IS GOING TO HELL WHY THE FUCK DONT THEY GET OUT, AND SAVE THEM SELFS SINCE THER ARE THE CHOOSEN ONE'S

[XQslayer]

Man, these westboro church woman turn me the FUCK on! Oh yeah! I would love to screw em all night long. "oh, oh, oh yeah, i love the way you flash those signs"... AWWWWW YEAAAAAAH *Troll face.jpg*

[evanstoler]

Hooray for WBC. Thank goodness for dead soldiers.

[vachamps]

@evanstoler I hope you're joking

[chadeg27]

Hey! Village Idiots picketing fallen soldiers' funerals....Yeah, I'm talking to you! Do you know WHY you are allowed to do that? BECAUSE THE SOLDIER YOU ARE TRASHING, GAVE HIS OR HER LIFE SO YOU WOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO EXPRESS YOUR STUPIDITY!

[blabber9093]

I understand that they are trying to protect the right of free speech, but shouldn't there be limitations? You don't see most students in school invoke free speech, because it's disrespectful. Yet it is completely appropriate to hold signs and preach while funeral processions are taking place? Apparently manners and respect aren't apart of the Constitution. And how did the WBC come to the conclusion to protest soldier's funerals to spead an anti gay message?

[Graham6762]

Either you believe in free speech or you don't. Your son joined the army. The army is there to fight wars do not complain that your son died you idiot. Soldiers fight. Win for freedom of speech. Either you believe in it or you don't.

[zippyman818]

Disagreeable speech is protected speech.

8-1, pretty much a slam dunk.

The SC left open the local governments to enact restrictions on how close a protest can be. In my town we kept them 1.25 miles away, and they left before the drive to Arlington.

[DarthSchwartz]

harassment is harassment. case closed. this has nothing to do wit free speech.

[TheVMFA333]

300 million america 0 court 1

[5lkk]

Next up libel & yelling fire in a crowded venue, calling for the murder of others become protected free speech.

[5lkk]

Funerals aren't about the deceased, they are a coping mechanism for the family & friends of the deceased. 2 wrongs never made anything right, but perhaps persons should start protesting at the funerals of WBC members & of those SC justices who don't seem to understand the rights of one end, where the rights of others begin. Can't blame it all on neocon assholes, as the so called liberal, appointed by Clinton & Obama. judges apparently don't get it either

[angonbing]

i wonder what the founding fathers would say if they could see what their first amendment has turned into today.

[malakaijub]

those people of westboro are on borrowed time, somebody WILL kill them

[DvineGaming]

@malakaijub I know I would beat the living fucking shit out of them.

[LilMoreno703202]

jesus christ what kind of fucked up church is this

there one thing of freedom of speech a nazi can protest on a street or infront of a capitol building but the damn marine deserves the right to have peace

what kind of bullshit is this atleast on justice had balls and sense on the matter

smgdh

[KingNikan13]

As much as it pains me to say this, I agree with the supreme court decision. If we start limiting one groups right it will give other groups the idea and material that they can start censoring opinions they do not like by using this case as a base point. Sooner or later Comedians, bloggers, columnist will be held responisble for giving opinions if this decision was not made. Again, the WBC is a true disgrace to our nation, and I would really hope that they will go under soon.

[5lkk]

@KingNikan13 Evidently U don't understand or agree with the concept the rights of one ends where the rights of others begin. Because of common sense all rights needn't be codified, not many would disagree that the ability to bury a loved one in peace is a right.

[5lkk]

@KingNikan13 Comedians, bloggers, columnists are now held responsible if what they say is defamatory or libelous. Because proving either is so onerous, we don't see that many high profile cases Even at that the prospect of a lawsuit surely has many parsing what speak or write In my opinion anyone who doesn't have the writing skills & is greatly fearful of lawsuits should re-examine their need to speak in the public area using their true identity, particularly as a part of their livelihood

[auddiekaos401rules]

@KingNikan13 I agree but come one its a human thing, not a funeral and if you watch the 1st video they say that they only did it at funeral of a solider to get more media attention!! thats just sick..its not about gay or military its about being human!!

[robz797]

@KingNikan13 why it is not ok the yell fire at the movies, but this os ok

[KingNikan13]

@robz797

Because when you yell fire at the movies you are deliberately fooling people into believing there is a harm and your actions henceforth can cause injury because of your negligence. A protest is unlike that, they are not yelling fire but they are making inflammatory comments. We as members of a normal society are groomed to be able to deal with inflammatory comments without reacting violently.

[jimmydeanbreakfastsg]

@KingNikan13 its more about common decency- for instance it could be said that picketing could not be done inside of a cemetery, though I completely understand where you're coming from.

[metalgearanarchist]

these whack jobs give christians a bad name.

[teeeeeedofffffffffff]

This is dispicable and those church going haters should be ashamed of their behavior!

[andreo]

I had a feeling that Westboro would win. The protest is in extremely poor taste. Something you have to wonder about though is: how does Westboro fund their protests. The "church" is made up mostly of family members and they don't own a money printing press. Most of the members however are lawyers. But just because you get a law degree doesn't mean that you have clients. So who is soliciting the services of these asses? How do they make their money to fund the protests?

[MadXMax187]

I guess that's the problem with living in a country with free speech, if you don't like it go to China they don't have ANY rights.

[PGOLDEN88]

Forget psychological terrorism, I believe this "church" should be arrested on charges of supporting terrorism. May God bless the men and women of the US Armed Forces past and present, and hold in his loving hands the families mourning the deaths of loved ones due to OIF/OND and OEF.

[Graham6762]

What does he think soldiers do in the army? They fight and it is dangerous do not complain if he dies. Armies are there to fight and die. Long live free speech.

[outlawX357]

@Graham6762 you already said that

[LilMoreno703202]

@Graham6762 seriously i believe in free speech hell i practice that right everyday i don't give a fuck but if a man who died for this country deserves a peaceful burial

im joining the marines so your saying if i die they have a right to picket my funeral think about it

[Graham6762]

@LilMoreno703202 Man you are the antithesis of an American. If you do not believe in the right of someone to say something offensive or racist you do not believe in free speech at all. When you say this, you are saying that you do not want free speech for yourself.

[Chitown1911]

Westboro church are a bunch of bigoted assholes who don't have half a brain cell between them. But this is the US... and in the US you have the right to say whatever you want to anyone you want, as long as it's not a threat. It's one of the reasons why this country is so great.

[brian4480]

if your wondering why this family does not protest funerals were they are from (the greater kansas city area) you only have to look at the sexually active Libby Phelps, Its hard to hold up signs, preaching right wing god propaganda when you grand daughter sucked dick out of wedlock. Next time you see these tools holding up signs bring up the fact that libby phelps was sexually active out of wedlock. They used to protect all the time in KC but when they have signs pointed at them they get mad.

[brian4480]

@brian4480 i meant protest sorry. And i have no issue with sex out of wedlock...i am just arguing the point that they are just as "sinful" the rest of us, if you believe in god.

[Redcaster916]

What sins? Ive lived 30 years without a single sin. Life and human counsciousness is not sins. The sooner we stop listening to people who believe in religions the better out kids will be.

[yoyoshotstuff]

Just ignore them... the dad is an idiot though he must have never read the constitution

[IceSlushi]

@yoyoshotstuff The dad is not an idiot, he is had a decision based on emotion...

[yoyoshotstuff]

@IceSlushi The constitution is the constitution i believe in the Bill of Rights the ignorant Westboro Baptist Church and Fred Phelps are allowed to speak their minds no matter how stupid they are

[outlawX357]

@yoyoshotstuff that was his sons funeral. I don't care if its protected under the first amendment. you wouldn't say that if you had family serving in the service.

[yoyoshotstuff]

@outlawX357 I believe in the constitution in every case, the bill of rights are why this country is so great

[outlawX357]

@yoyoshotstuff does this extend to those of radicalism ideas such as anarchist, anti government militia, neo nazis, cults, kkk, and other such organizations? or what about those that promote the idea for people to commit suicide targeting certain racial or sexual orientation? Or those sick fucks like NAMBLA who want to sleep with underage boys or sexual predators that target underage girls? where do you draw the line from freedom of speech to crime?

[yoyoshotstuff]

@outlawX357 As long as the act isn't physical like NAMBLA actually having sex with a boy or the KKK lynching an African American then they can speak, but the second they do something the person must be punished to the full extent of the law!

[outlawX357]

@yoyoshotstuff see thats the problem though your thought process is to prosecute after it has become physical, but how many kids have committed suicide because of hate articles posted by an organization or group. the distribution of child pornography comes from sick that can claim its not sexual but art. Or what about racial or intolerant groups that drive people from their homes with messages of hate and intimidation. The damage goes far beyond the physical it destroys lives.

[SPAGHETTIMONSTER1]

solders are dieing for gay peoples sins? I thought everyone dies? I'm glad the 1st. is protected even though I disagree with Phelps 100%, who is he to judge?

[Graham6762]

That father is an idiot, your son joined the army dying is a possibility. What do you think happens in the army? Free speech all the day.

[outlawX357]

@Graham6762 yeah, but they should atleast allow him to have a decent burial without people coming to their kids funeral to picket and praise his death. I have family in the service if they die yeah that's a possibility but no I will not stand by and let people make a mockery of their sacrifice.

[psb1964]

Idiots have a right to be idiots.