Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests

[jp'swife]

I'm actually surprised this hasn't been posted here yet.
I watched some of the footage on TV and was tremendously PISSED that this was going on.

I think this momma's gonna get a Harley.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/21/funeral.motorcyclists.ap/index.html

Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters.

They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.

Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.

The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.

"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."

[lawyerlee]

I love that this is going on. I'm so proud of the Patriot Guard. Our Senate recently passed a bill that will hopefully restrict the Westboro Baptist Church members (they are headquartered in Topeka, Kansas), but the free speech advocate in me struggles with that approach. This is something I can get down with. The Supreme Court has often said that offensive speech ideally leads to more speech, which is exactly what these people are doing. I think it is so important for us to stand up and say that we are outraged by Fred Phelps and his followers. For them to harrass people in some of the darkest moments they will ever face - while they are mourning the loss of a loved one - is so sick.

[ysolde]

When Phelps and his gang protested at the trial of the men who murdered Matthew Shepherd, the LGBT community and their friends in that little corner of the world got together and dressed up as angels with enormous wings, and they stood in a circle around the area where the Phelps people were protesting -- effectively making it impossible to see the hate-filled slogans Phelps and his friends were holding up, and replacing such imagery with angels.

[msnicolea]

How moving--both re: the bikers and what you posted, ysolde.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

I read something about this the other day... I agree, they rock. What a wonderful thing they're doing with their time.

[BTB]

I'm deathly afraid of anything with less than four wheels or I'd be there with you jp'swife. :)

[jesvet]

Sometimes it takes the worst in people to bring out the best in others. How awful and wonderful all at the same time.

[curlyjr]

That is great, having encountered Phelps' little bigot army in my town, I am so proud of people who stand against him!

[imagirliegirl]

I think it's so shameful that someone would go to a funeral of a dead soldier (or anyone) and use that as a time to protest. Disgusting. :mad:

It's wonderful what these bikers are doing! It's sad that there's a need, but great that they will stand up and do it.

[jnettie]

ITA! I may not agree with the war, but I would never ever ever bring a protest to someone's funeral. What a heartless thing to do!

I'm with Lawyerlee on not liking any limits to free speech, though. They may be totaly heartless jerks, but they have the right to protest. I want that right myself, so I don't want it limited in any way.

That said - I LOVE creative counter protests! This is wonderful! Especially when it is designed to show just how heartless/creul/nasty and mean the original protest is. Three cheers for the Patriot Guard Riders!

I did hear about the protesters at funerals, but not the Patriot Guard. Thanks for posting jp'swife!

[jp'swife]

I think it's so shameful that someone would go to a funeral of a dead soldier (or anyone) and use that as a time to protest. Disgusting. :mad:


I completely agree. I don't give a sh*t what race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, etc. you are. A funeral is a time for family and friends to reflect, remember and grieve for someone who has passed on. I think it is truly heartless and SINFUL to yell, judge and protest during that time. Then again, it is not my place to judge those people protesting...they will meet their maker eventually and take up their issues there about wishing someone dead and that they 'deserve' to die.
There is a time and place for everything. I kept watching the coverage on the news and just shook my head. I couldn't stop thinking about it. :mad:

[JamBray]

Fred Phelps and his little sheep just disgust me. I remember hearing about his protests outside of Matthew Shepherd's funeral, and now this. :mad: I truly cannot wait for karma to come around on this guy, but until then I'm glad we have people like the Patriot Guard, for what they're doing is truly wonderful.

[melmo]

JACKSON, Miss. - Members of a church who say God is killing American soldiers in Iraq because of the United States' tolerance of homosexuality are planning a protest at Saturday's services for Army Sgt. 1st Class Clarence D. McSwain.

The 31-year-old McSwain of Meridian died in Baghdad on June 8 when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy, the Department of Defense said.

Members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., have been going to funerals across the United States denouncing homosexuality and praising the deaths of Americans.

From msnbc.com

Full story here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13512340/

I normally avoid controversial issues here, but this has really struck a chord with me. I can not fathom how a group claiming to be Christian can protest a funeral. Mostly with claims that are so profoundly unrelated to the deceased. Homosexuality has nothing to do with this soldier or the war. According to the article they have been protesting lots of funerals.

FTR, I am not attacking Christians or any religious group. I am not stereotyping. I am specifically talking about these people and what they are doing "in the name of God". I am not looking for a catfight, but a conversation. If anyone has any insight to this group or feels this article is biased, please join. That's what I am looking for....an attempt to understand what makes these people feel this right.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

There is a thread about this already: Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=16643&highlight=funeral+protest) :)

[jessesgirl]

There are aticles about this constantly. As long as those nasty people have time on their hands, they will always be protesting soldier's funerals. The best media attention for them is no media attention. And the best thing is to ignore whatever the media has to say about them. Maybe they'll then get the clue that no one gives a f*ck about their distorted ideas about Christianity.

[LyLMyssChaos]

Our state just passed legislation that limited where this type of protest could take place. The law says that the protesters must stay at least 500 feet from any funeral service. There was an article in the paper this week and basically Fred Phelps and his looney's don't care about the law:
Group shrugs off funeral protest ban (http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-37/115107067572970.xml&coll=5)

[KK812]

I think these people are absolutely disgusting, and as a Christian, and ashamed that these people claim to share a religion that I KNOW would not condone this kind of behavior.

You don't have to agree with a certain issue, but basking in such a sorrowful event is appalling.

I'm sure this has already been suggested by SOMEONE, but as far as some sort of law, couldn't they say that you much have a permit 90 days in advance in order to protest at a funeral and all of it's proceedings? I think that would fix their butts. :D

[melmo]

There is a thread about this already: Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=16643&highlight=funeral+protest) :)


Thank you. I did a search, but it didn't come up. I guess I didn't search the right words.

I really can't imagine having a funeral for a loved one and encountering these people. I have no idea how people can feel justified in doing things that deliberately hurt other people.

I am all for free speech, but I believe there is a time and a place. Funerals are not the time or the place. I once had a professor that talked about the rights of people. She said, "I have the right to swing my arm. Until it hits someone else in the face." That has stayed with me for many years. Just because people have the right to free speech shouldn't give them free reign to cause harm to other people's lives.

[Witty Username]

I am not looking for a catfight, but a conversation. If anyone has any insight to this group or feels this article is biased, please join. That's what I am looking for....an attempt to understand what makes these people feel this right.

Oh, I don't think there's a chance of a catfight. From what I've seen, this is one thing we all agree on.

I think they are vile.

While unfortunately I can't offer you any insight as to why they think what they're doing is right, I'm actually glad that I can't wrap my head around what they're doing.

It hurts my heart and makes me incredibly sad even thinking about it, I can't imagine how it makes an already grieving family feel.

[tgr68]

I got to see these guys in "action" just a few weeks ago when we laid a classmate who was serving in Iraq to rest. The PG are very respectful in how they handle the protestors.

In our town, they simply parked their bikes along the streets helding up American flags and played patriotic music over a pretty loud sound system. They didn't even looked at or speak to the protestors. In fact they had their backs to them.

When the PG were all in place, you couldn't even see the protestors unless you knew exactly where to look and went looking for them. I'm sure this has already been suggested by SOMEONE, but as far as some sort of law, couldn't they say that you much have a permit 90 days in advance in order to protest at a funeral and all of it's proceedings? I think that would fix their butts. I know that the state of KS has passed a law setting out guidelines for when/how/where/etc. these people can protest in regards to funerals. Also, our city gave them strict guidelines (as they would for any funeral protests) to be done within a certain time frame of the funeral. Of course, they are trying to sue saying that the gov't (fed, state, city) is trying to take away there right to free speech. :rolleyes: That's what I am looking for....an attempt to understand what makes these people feel this right. If you want to look at their website, here's the link (http://www.godhatesfags.com). I will tell you, though, it left me even more disgusted and confused about these people.