ACLU sues for Westboro Baptist Church

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:18pm

Yes, you read that correctly. Westboro has managed to get the ACLU to sue on their behalf because they have been court-ordered to stay a certain distance away from soldiers' funerals and this is *such* a breach of their constitutional right to be d***s. Unbe-f***ing-lievable.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/22/AR2006072200643.html

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:23pm

I read that a few days ago and was FLOORED.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:30pm

It's what the ACLU does. It is their mission.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:46pm

I wonder how this would play out if they were protesting funerals of African Americans?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:56pm

Well, you don't actually assume that all the soldiers whose funerals have been disrupted have been white, do you? I mean, we're talking the US military here.

And if those assholes were protesting African American funerals the ACLU would be defending their constitutional right to do that too. Again, it's their mission.

They defended neo-Nazis who wanted to march in the heavily Jewish suburb of Skokie, Illinois. Their ACLU lawyer was himself Jewish.

It's not that they support what these assholes want to do, it's that they uphold the constitutional rights of all.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:56pm

I'm sure the ACLU would defend that as well. I can't remember anything quite like this in their history, but at least they don't pick and choose their cases.
I know this is tricky territory, but I think their actions go well beyond freedom of speech and into harassment. Do you suppose it would be different if Westboro crashed the funeral of one of their family members? It just boggles my mind how people can defend their actions.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/24/06 at 11:59pm

It's hard for us to understand, but obviously they set aside personal feelings.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:00am

In some instances, the market of free speech has won. Counter "protesters" have protected the rights of the families by overwhelming Phelps and his family!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:04am

Exactly. And remember, it's the same slippery slope that has relegated political protesters with legitimate messages to be banished to "Free Speech Zones" at Republican and Democratic National Conventions alike. The ACLU sees it as part of the same continuum, even though we may all attach different emotions to the individual situations.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:04am

The ACLU defends the Constitution, unlike the current president, who treats the Constitution as a temporary impediment to increased executive power.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:07am

Back in the days of index cards, I volunteered for the ACLU and on my list to call was a famous IL politician!

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:11am

you know, I'm really usually in favor of the ACLU and their actions, but this I can't support. I think the best thing that could happen would be for a flaming homosexual to brutally murder Fred Phelps on Live National TV, sure it would make him a martyr, but only to the 50 or so brain dead pig ****ers in his family who follow him.

[DG]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:46am

This isn't a slippery slope at all - you either have free speech or you don't - period.

If what these people have to say offends you, take the time and energy to go where they do (because THEY are) and be an angel like the ones at Matthew's funeral. As someone who was there, I can tell you it works.

If you want to condone silencing someone else, then don't whine and moan when you're told you can't raise your voice.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:49am

That's why Romaine from the Derrek & Romaine show built the 6' angel wings to stand in front of the Westboro people at Matthew's funeral . She couldn't shut them up, but she could block them. It was a beautiful moment. Amazing what queers can do with sheets and PVC pipe.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:55am

"Amazing what queers can do with sheets and PVC pipe."


The implications of that statement are vast.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 1:20am

Had to put SOMEthing dirty in this thread.