Westboro Baptist: A Dose of their own medicine

[CU Tiger]

Saw this earlier....IF TRUE it is hilarious.

Mississippi Town Destroys Westboro Baptist Plans (http://www.retirelikeme.com/2011/04/21/mississippi-town-destroys-westboro-baptist-plans/)

[A-Husker-4-Life]

This is F#@$ing brilliant...

[panerd]

The website is blocked at my work but I would love to hear a synopsis. I hate those pieces of shit.

[BYU 14]

Beautiful, hopefully this is an ongoing trend

[Lathum]

The website is blocked at my work but I would love to hear a synopsis. I hate those pieces of shit.

article

The Westboro Baptist Church once again makes the headlines. This time however, the good news is that they were foiled in their attempts to disrupt another serviceman’s funeral. Mississippi gives the Westboro the kind of welcome that we would all like to give.

Since we have reported on the Westboro Baptist Church a few times here, it is fitting that we update you on the latest.

Last Saturday, USMC Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers was laid to rest in Brandon, Mississippi. He was killed in action in Afghanistan on April 7th. Many of the town’s residents paid homage along the route of the fallen hero as his body was transported home.

Most notably absent were the Westboro protestors who planned a large demonstration at Sgt. Rogers’ funeral. According to an Ole Miss message board, a tidbit of info………..

“A couple of days before, one of them (Westboro protestors) ran his mouth at a Brandon gas station and got his arse waxed. Police were called and the beaten man could not give much of a description of who beat him. When they canvassed the station and spoke to the large crowd that had gathered around, no one seemed to remember anything about what had happened.

Rankin County handled this thing perfectly. There were many things that were put into place that most will never know about and at great expense to the county.

Most of the morons never made it out of their hotel parking lot. It seems that certain Rankin county pickup trucks were parked directly behind any car that had Kansas plates in the hotel parking lot and the drivers mysteriously disappeared until after the funeral was over. Police were called but their wrecker service was running behind and it was going to be a few hours before they could tow the trucks so the Kansas plated cars could get out.

A few made it to the funeral but were ushered away to be questioned about a crime they might have possibly been involved in. Turns out, after a few hours of questioning, that they were not involved and they were allowed to go on about their business.”



It might be legal for the protestors to be there, but it isn’t right. Thankfully, the citizens of Brandon agreed and arranged for these slight incidents to keep the unwanted pests away. The Westboro mob never made it to the funeral and Sgt. Rogers was laid to rest without incident.

Fred Phelps, who is the leader of Westboro mob, is a disbarred lawyer and Democratic activist. Other members of his family hold law degrees. They use our court system often and have sued and won countless times all with financial gain to themselves, helping to fund their sickening activities. Undoubtedly, Phelps will plan a lawsuit against someone in Mississippi because his grand plans were thwarted. Mississippi folks says let him. There isn’t a jury in the whole state that will see things his way.

While I understand the Supreme Court ruling allowing Phelps and his gang to demonstrate, I sure appreciate the fact that citizens take it upon themselves to do the right thing. If it takes the community to gather around the bereaved to keep these thugs away, then so be it. I hope every town learns from the example set by people of Brandon, Mississippi.

[gstelmack]

The website is blocked at my work but I would love to hear a synopsis. I hate those pieces of shit.

Folks in the town parked trucks behind all the cars with Kansas plates in the motel parking lot, the towing service used by police was backed up a few hours and so couldn't get their until the service was over, and similar shenanigans to keep them away from the service.

Apparently one braggart got beat up at a local gas station, and there were no "witnesses" in the crowd. Not a fan of the beating, but if you're going to brag about things you really need to be more careful where you do it.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I can't imagine a lawsuit would be heard in state court, if they can show that law enforcement was complicit it's most likely a federal civil rights lawsuit that Phelps crowd would win, and that could prove awfully expensive for taxpayers.

No fan of Phelps attacks on military funerals in the slightest, but I'm not much on criminal activity to stop them either. Other areas have found ways to shield the families to a large extent, I've got several biker friends who ride "honor guard" that amounts to a rolling security cordon. Truth is, I'm more bothered by what amounts to unlawful detention at the motel than I am by the loudmouth getting his ass beat.

[Doug5984]

bravo Brandon MS, bravo

[gstelmack]

I can't imagine a lawsuit would be heard in state court, if they can show that law enforcement was complicit it's most likely a federal civil rights lawsuit that Phelps crowd would win, and that could prove awfully expensive for taxpayers.

I think the key here is the towing company was the one that was "busy", not the cops themselves. We'll see though, obviously we only have a tiny part of the story.

No fan of Phelps attacks on military funerals in the slightest, but I'm not much on criminal activity to stop them either. Other areas have found ways to shield the families to a large extent, I've got several biker friends who ride "honor guard" that amounts to a rolling security cordon. Truth is, I'm more bothered by what amounts to unlawful detention at the motel than I am by the loudmouth getting his ass beat.

They weren't really detained, they could walk around, they just had no use of the car. They'd have to sue the individual truck owners I'd think. However, the part that worries me is someone from Kasnas unrelated to the church coming through town would have been caught up in it, and they'd have every right to screech to high heaven about this.

[DaddyTorgo]

Only issue I see is they used county pickup trucks to block their cars (which was dumb). Other than that the cops were just busy, then hauled them in for questioning about the fight (which is legit), then the towing company was busy (which is fine).

And I have a hard time thinking they'd win a federal civil rights lawsuit over some county pickup trucks blocking their cars in. Fuck knows that can happen easily enough even when it's unintentional.

Better course of action would have been to use private cars though.

[Blackadar]

They weren't really detained, they could walk around, they just had no use of the car. They'd have to sue the individual truck owners I'd think. However, the part that worries me is someone from Kasnas unrelated to the church coming through town would have been caught up in it, and they'd have every right to screech to high heaven about this.

I think you missed the part where it says "Rankin county pickup trucks". If that means official Rankin County vehicles, the county could be liable.

I'm most certainly not a fan of Westboro and if someone cold-cocked Fred Phelps I'd be the first one to buy that guy a beer once he was released from jail. I wouldn't piss on Fred Phelps if he were on fire. But using the machinery of government to prevent someone from using his Constitutional rights bothers the hell out of me. If their exercise of free speech is too vile to be allowed and the government endorses that view by helping to restrict that speech, then the 1st Amendment means nothing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

FWIW, I read that bit about the county trucks as meaning "trucks with Rankin County license plates", not government-owned vehicles.

The parts I don't buy are that towing service presumably under contract with the government to provide services in a timely manner was legitimately busy, nor that local law enforcement did not know well in advance of the plan to block the cars, not in a town that small. The questioning in connection some mysterious crime sounds like the kind of thing that would get a cop decertified at the very least The assault sounds more like an opportunity thing & I find that at least plausibly deniable.

Take these same scenarios, apply them to something like out-of-state NAACP members or GLAAD in town to march about something or another & see how fast it's the claims of civil rights violations is the top story on the national news for two days and how fast the Justice Dept swarms the town with great vengeance & furious anger. Instead, it's a minor blip in the news-of-the-weird section of the wire (if that much).

Phelps' bunch may be nothing so much as batshit crazy, not to mention mindbogglingly misguided in their attacks on military funerals but they've got as much right (figuring out laws to obstruct them notwithstanding) to do their thing as anybody else who does theirs. Where's all the "First they came for ..." crowd on this?

[SirFozzie]

They actually agreed with you Jon, at least the courts did, in that they can't restrict them from protesting.

[digamma]

Well, it depends on what you mean by "busy" Jon. I totally buy that the owner operator of a small tow shop was busy getting coffee or catching up on paperwork.

[DaddyTorgo]

FWIW, I read that bit about the county trucks as meaning "trucks with Rankin County license plates", not government-owned vehicles.

The parts I don't buy are that towing service presumably under contract with the government to provide services in a timely manner was legitimately busy, nor that local law enforcement did not know well in advance of the plan to block the cars, not in a town that small. The questioning in connection some mysterious crime sounds like the kind of thing that would get a cop decertified at the very least The assault sounds more like an opportunity thing & I find that at least plausibly deniable.

Take these same scenarios, apply them to something like out-of-state NAACP members or GLAAD in town to march about something or another & see how fast it's the claims of civil rights violations is the top story on the national news for two days and how fast the Justice Dept swarms the town with great vengeance & furious anger. Instead, it's a minor blip in the news-of-the-weird section of the wire (if that much).

Phelps' bunch may be nothing so much as batshit crazy, not to mention mindbogglingly misguided in their attacks on military funerals but they've got as much right (figuring out laws to obstruct them notwithstanding) to do their thing as anybody else who does theirs. Where's all the "First they came for ..." crowd on this?

Cops have a right to question them - particularly if they were smart and it was about the assault.

Ever had to wait for a tow-truck? It can take hours, no matter where you are. I'm sure there's no "timely manner" clause in the towing company contract.

[Blackadar]

Where's all the "First they came for ..." crowd on this?

That was pretty much the gist of my post.

[Toddzilla]

I think you missed the part where it says "Rankin county pickup trucks". If that means official Rankin County vehicles, the county could be liable.

I'm most certainly not a fan of Westboro and if someone cold-cocked Fred Phelps I'd be the first one to buy that guy a beer once he was released from jail. I wouldn't piss on Fred Phelps if he were on fire. But using the machinery of government to prevent someone from using his Constitutional rights bothers the hell out of me. If their exercise of free speech is too vile to be allowed and the government endorses that view by helping to restrict that speech, then the 1st Amendment means nothing.a big fucking +1

[Ben E Lou]

The parts I don't buy are that towing service presumably under contract with the government to provide services in a timely manner was legitimately busy, nor that local law enforcement did not know well in advance of the plan to block the cars, not in a town that small. The questioning in connection some mysterious crime sounds like the kind of thing that would get a cop decertified at the very leastThis.

I haven't read past JIMG's post, so maybe it comes up later, but does anyone else find this ironic? It's like Mississippi Burning type stuff. This is pretty much exactly how law enforcement and local good ol' boys used to do business in small-town Mississippi up through the 60s to "keep the niggers down." Nobody sees anything. Government vehicles involved. Interesting...

[Autumn]

This is how Westboro works, right? They disgust everybody to such an extent that everybody, left and right, is happy to see stuff like this happen to them. Then they get lawsuits, maybe make some money, get some publicity, and get to throw it in our faces that they're allowed to do what they do. The question is, are we big enough to do the correct thing, even with pricks like this. And the answer is probably no in the long run, or in this particular case, the short run.

[Ben E Lou]

This is how Westboro works, right? Yup. Many are saying "BRAVO, SMALL-TOWN MISSISSIPPI," but really, they're likely playing right into Westboro's hands on this one and helping them keep it up.

[JediKooter]

I see Westboro no different than I see PETA. My hope is that everybody just ignores them and hopefully they will eventually fall into obscurity.

[Ben E Lou]

Heh...and a new twist....

http://cjonline.com/news/state/2011-04-28/sheriff-online-westboro-reports-are-false

[Autumn]

Hilarious. The Internet everybody!

[molson]

Heh...and a new twist....

http://cjonline.com/news/state/2011-04-28/sheriff-online-westboro-reports-are-false

"We ain't seen nothing"

[JonInMiddleGA]

Heh...and a new twist....

http://cjonline.com/news/state/2011-04-28/sheriff-online-westboro-reports-are-false

LOLZ

[Galaxy]

The question is, are we big enough to do the correct thing, even with pricks like this. And the answer is probably no in the long run, or in this particular case, the short run.

What is the "correct" thing?

[Autumn]

What is the "correct" thing?

Giving them the same protection of the law and rights that we'd give to any other organization.

[Schmidty]

Not a fan of the beating, but if you're going to brag about things you really need to be more careful where you do it.

If there is ever a time to be a fan of a beating, it's when one is administered to these pukes. I have absolutely no problem with them getting their asses kicked, and I'm not a violent person at all normally.

[Galaxy]

Giving them the same protection of the law and rights that we'd give to any other organization.

You have to do that carefully without violating Westboro's rights.

[Glengoyne]

Well, it depends on what you mean by "busy" Jon. I totally buy that the owner operator of a small tow shop was busy getting coffee or catching up on paperwork.

I'm guessing they had a funeral to go to.

In any case a bad deal for the town. If the police and local government were in on it as much as it seems, it is a huge homerun for the Westboro folks.

Edit:Guess I should have read the entire thread.

[Scoobz0202]

Heard somewhere earlier that these guys are planning on protesting in Joplin.

That should end good.

[MizzouCowboy]

Yep.

From what I understand they are planning on protesting/picketing on Sunday when Obama is here, and for the Memorial Service of the 125 tornado victims. I heard their website says something like "Thank God for the 125 deaths".

I'm not sure how this will turnout. Hopefully everything goes without incident and they are just ignored. But who knows what will happen when a bunch of rednecks are provoked. I just hope nobody falls for their bullshit.

[RendeR]

Giving them the same protection of the law and rights that we'd give to any other organization.



We put people in jail for committing crimes. Crimes are generally defined as actions that harm others or cause damage to property (very loosely defined atm).

Protesting someone's FUNERAL is harmful. its emotional damaging to those attending and should be eliminated. There is no good coming from such an act, only anguish and inciting more anger and pain in those who cared for teh deceased.

I don't see how Free Speech covers this. At the least I would consider this verbal assault, at worst incitement to riot, disturbing the peace and slander.

Any of which should be MORE than enough reason to jail any member of ANY group who chose to protest a funeral.

[ISiddiqui]

Protesting someone's FUNERAL is harmful. its emotional damaging to those attending and should be eliminated. There is no good coming from such an act, only anguish and inciting more anger and pain in those who cared for teh deceased.

I don't see how Free Speech covers this. At the least I would consider this verbal assault, at worst incitement to riot, disturbing the peace and slander.

This is HORRIBLE slippery slope. Protesting abortion clinics is harmful. It is emotionally damaging to those women who are trying to enter, and therefore should be eliminated, etc.

[Toddzilla]

I think it's just going to take one huge ass-beating to start to put an end to this nonsense. It's one thing to go protest hoping someone crosses the line so you can file a suit and get paid. It's another thing to watch someone you're protesting with get beaten into a coma to make you think twice about protesting the next time and wondering if you're next.

Not that I'd approve of such violence, but I'd understand it.

[RendeR]

This is HORRIBLE slippery slope. Protesting abortion clinics is harmful. It is emotionally damaging to those women who are trying to enter, and therefore should be eliminated, etc.


yup, if they step within the set distance limits they should be jailed too. It has already been proven that such protestors can and will use deadly force in the past. No real reason to allow it to happen again.

Funerals currently have distance limits which, IMO are too small. Same for abortion clinics.

Thank you for helping prove my point.

Just because you have a right to speak, does not guarantee you the right to speak in any given geographic point. it just means you MAY speak. Protest down the road all you want. Stay the fuck away from the funerals.

[Autumn]

In my opinion some things we govern through law, and make them crimes, some things we govern through a social contract of human decency. I don't think we need to law to keep people from protesting at funerals. As far as I know, these are the only people I've ever head of willing to do such a thing. Do we need a law just to keep these what, dozen? people from doing something wrong? I don't know. It's a hard question, clearly we all want a way to stop them from hurting these people. I'm not sure I want laws on the books to make us all behave decently though.

[Maple Leafs]

I read where these guys decided to protest a show by comedian Lisa Lampanelli. She apparently pledged $1,000 to a gay rights organization for every protestor who showed up. So Westboro ended up raising almost $50,000. Thanks guys!

[BYU 14]

Was only a matter of time for something like this to happen as much as they piss people off. Glad they finally have a permanent thorn in their side now. :lol:

Rainbow flag painted on house across from Westboro Baptist Church (http://news.msn.com/us/rainbow-flag-painted-on-house-across-from-westboro-baptist-church)

[EagleFan]

lol, was just going to post that.

[Sweed]

I see Westboro no different than I see PETA. My hope is that everybody just ignores them and hopefully they will eventually fall into obscurity.

This. Give them no coverage or publicity.

I live in a small town in NW Iowa. SSgt Steve Blass, a man my son graduated with lost his life, along with 4 crew members, in Afghanistan when his Blackhawk helicopter crashed. His funeral was Tuesday afternoon.

I wondered when we got the news of Steve's death if Westboro would come to small town Iowa. As of Monday I assumed they weren't as there had been no mention of them in any press I knew of. Tuesday morning I heard someone talking about a protest and my gut sank. His funeral was Tuesday afternoon and these idiots came to town to protest. They got absolutely no mention in the press. NOTHING, NADA. If I hadn't just happened to be where this person was talking about a protest I wouldn't even have known they had been here. I assume many in town have no idea as I have not heard anyone mention it in the last 3 days.

The closest the paper came to touching on the protest is this blurb..

An extremely heavy law enforcement presence - bolstered by a contingent of Patriot Guard Riders - underscored how much the local community wanted to preserve the solemnity and dignity of the funeral service for Blass who died with four other crew members when their Black Hawk helicopter went down in Afghanistan March 11.

I assume this law enforcement presence simply kept these douche bags in whatever place they were allowed to be, where they probably couldn't really be heard. But I have no idea because as I said there is no talk or reporting about the protestors at all.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

5-year-old girl takes on Westboro with lemonade stand | The Upbeat - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-upbeat/girl-westboro-lemonade-stand-140819768.html)

[Lathum]

Awesome.

Love how the soldiers cam out to support her, and probably look out for her as well. Those WBC fucks are cray.

[TroyF]

Awesome.

Love how the soldiers cam out to support her, and probably look out for her as well. Those WBC fucks are cray.

Well, yes and no. I doubt they'd assault a kid. The goal for them is to get assaulted so they can file suit. Their bark is a lot worse than their bite. They are just trolls on a large scale.

[sterlingice]

I don't suppose Kool-Aid could sue them?

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

EPIC!!!!

Punk Band Shoots Porn Film on Front Lawn of Westboro Baptist Church (http://gawker.com/punk-band-shoots-porn-film-on-front-lawn-of-westboro-ba-1440680143?utm_source=recirculation&utm_medium=recirculation&utm_campaign=friday)


Get Shot!, a California punk band that bills itself as "the sleaziest punk band in the world" and "the first band ever to start a porn site (https://www.getshotgirls.com/)," is particularly proud of its latest release: A porn "film" shot entirely on the front lawn of the Westboro Baptist Church.
<aside data-ids="818077560" class="referenced-wide six right columns">
</aside>Upping the blasphe-larious ante set for them by the satanists who held a graveside ceremony that turned Fred Phelps' dead mom gay (http://gawker.com/satanists-turn-wbc-founders-mom-gay-in-ceremony-held-o-818077560), the members of Get Shot! took a detour while driving to a concert in Denver, stopping outside the Topeka headquarters of the WBC to film their bass player masturbating naked outside the house that hate built.


"The Phelps family and Westboro Baptist Church are ridiculous and do nothing except spread hate and cause controversy," Laura Lush said in a press release (https://www.facebook.com/getshotkicksass/posts/519319074820814). "As a bisexual woman and the bass player of a ridiculous punk band, I wanted to spread my legs and cause controversy."

[Suicane75]

Yay, the morons and the idiots are fighting, we all lose!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Oh, this should be fun. Westboro Baptist, who are openly KU fans, just announced that they're coming to Mizzou on February 15th to protest at the Mizzou vs. Tennessee basketball game. Obviously protesting the university's support of Michael Sam.

This is NOT going to end well.

[Berger]

These people are not Christian. I hate them with every ounce I've got.

[NobodyHere]

Just for the memories:

Superheroes Vs. The Westboro Baptist Church (http://comicsalliance.com/super-heroes-vs-the-westboro-baptist-church/)

[panerd]

Do these guys ever even end up showing up to any of these protests? Or do they just get all the publicity that they desire? Seems like most of their protests (much like the Koran burners a few years back) never come to fruition.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Do these guys ever even end up showing up to any of these protests? Or do they just get all the publicity that they desire? Seems like most of their protests (much like the Koran burners a few years back) never come to fruition.

I'm going to the game on Saturday, so I'm sure we'll find out one way or another.

[Lathum]

Oh, this should be fun. Westboro Baptist, who are openly KU fans, just announced that they're coming to Mizzou on February 15th to protest at the Mizzou vs. Tennessee basketball game. Obviously protesting the university's support of Michael Sam.

This is NOT going to end well.

I love how you feel the need to point out they are KU fans, as if that matters.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I love how you feel the need to point out they are KU fans, as if that matters.

Just one more log on the raging fire.

I wasn't the only one to make the connection. Most of Mizzou Nation is making similar comments........

Lucas Vincent ‏@High_Chief_LV96

If being from kansas isn't embarrassing enough there is the westboro baptist "church"

[panerd]

I love how you feel the need to point out they are KU fans, as if that matters.

To be fair their leader does seem to have on a KU coat in a lot of the pictures I have seen. Which as a Mizzou fan I found humorous.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSfCO-0EJJi5JmfGz4vQJCaBaTeU-4T-BgVRGONDlVlsS4IKMc9sg:images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131018195921/real-life-villains/images/7/7b/PASTOR-FRED-PHELPS-001.jpg

[Lathum]

To be fair their leader does seem to have on a KU coat in a lot of the pictures I have seen. Which as a Mizzou fan I found humorous.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSfCO-0EJJi5JmfGz4vQJCaBaTeU-4T-BgVRGONDlVlsS4IKMc9sg:images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131018195921/real-life-villains/images/7/7b/PASTOR-FRED-PHELPS-001.jpg

Ther is a difference between finding in funny and including it as a relevant part of your statement. Unless you feel he is only doing this because he is a KU fan and its Mizzou.

[digamma]

Just one more log on the raging fire.

I wasn't the only one to make the connection. Most of Mizzou Nation is making similar comments........

Far be it from me to question a high chief, but I don't think that quote helps your "argument."

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Ther is a difference between finding in funny and including it as a relevant part of your statement. Unless you feel he is only doing this because he is a KU fan and its Mizzou.

Has anyone suggested that? It's funny and it only adds to the ironic nature of their protest. Some people around here need to take a day off.

[molson]

If they show up, will the Missouri fans boo them for being homophobic or for being Kansas fans? I think the latter is worse in Missouri, right?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

If they show up, will the Missouri fans boo them for being homophobic or for being Kansas fans? I think the latter is worse in Missouri, right?

Yes, the latter is unquestionably worse. We'll likely just laugh more than anything.

[panerd]

Ther is a difference between finding in funny and including it as a relevant part of your statement. Unless you feel he is only doing this because he is a KU fan and its Mizzou.

I agree and I also don't think the whole group are all KU fans. In fact I'm not even sure Phelps is. I seem to remember him protesting something at the University of Kansas. I think MBBF was being funny but sometimes I am wrong.

If I were a KU fan I would be annoyed by it since he obviously is just a nutcase who wears their jacket but as a Mizzou fan it is the only thing about those idiots that makes me smile.

[Radii]

I think MBBF was being funny but sometimes I am wrong.


I'm sure you're right but he has such a long history of inserting his bias into things in the most astounding ways that its very hard not to have a reaction of "WTF MBBF, YOURE GOING TO MAKE THIS ABOUT (Kansas/Texas/Big 12/PS4/EA, depending on the day/argument) NOW TOO!?"

If any other Mizzou fan on the board had posted it first, no one would have noticed.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I'm sure you're right but he has such a long history of inserting his bias into things in the most astounding ways that its very hard not to have a reaction of "WTF MBBF, YOURE GOING TO MAKE THIS ABOUT (Kansas/Texas/Big 12/PS4/EA, depending on the day/argument) NOW TOO!?"

If any other Mizzou fan on the board had posted it first, no one would have noticed.

Westboro Baptist Church's new slogan: We may be beakers and homophobic, but at least we're not MBBF!!!!!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Just passed the protest outside the parking lot. Fred made the trip and he decided to wear a .... KU jacket! Lol

There was around 1,000 MU students forming a barrier to make sure the didn't get on campus. Lots of police around, but everyone was behaving themselves overall.

[sterlingice]

Trolling must really be fun for some people

SI

[Scarecrow]

Just passed the protest outside the parking lot. Fred made the trip and he decided to wear a .... KU jacket! Lol

There was around 1,000 MU students forming a barrier to make sure the didn't get on campus. Lots of police around, but everyone was behaving themselves overall.

Fred made the trip??? There were rumors that he had died, and it just wasn't publicized.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Fred made the trip??? There were rumors that he had died, and it just wasn't publicized.

I couldn't get a pic because I was obviously in some pretty heavy gameday traffic, but the guy was a dead ringer for the picture that panerd posted earlier, even down to the coat. If it wasn't him, it was a family member who looked just like him.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Trolling must really be fun for some people

SI

It's not that hard when you have a state as ass-backwards as Kansas has shown itself to be this week. I never thought we'd see a time when Missouri actually looked progressive in regards to this topic. I was wrong and then Kansas leadership went out of their way to distance themselves even further from reality.

[cartman]

Just passed the protest outside the parking lot. Fred made the trip and he decided to wear a .... KU jacket! Lol

There was around 1,000 MU students forming a barrier to make sure the didn't get on campus. Lots of police around, but everyone was behaving themselves overall.

MU Police said it was around 500, and Fred Phelps wasn't there.

Former MU star feels support as hundreds turn out to ‘Stand with Sam’ - Columbia Daily Tribune | Columbia Missouri: Local News (http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/former-mu-star-feels-support-as-hundreds-turn-out-to/article_37fdf4e8-969e-11e3-a28c-0017a43b2370.html)

[kcchief19]

Media accounts range from 500 to 2,000, from what I've seen and hear the answer is somewhere in the middle. Junior was there along with other family members but no confirmation if Senior was there or not.

Students ‘Stand with Sam’ against Westboro Baptist &ndash; The Maneater (http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2014/2/15/students-stand-sam-against-westboro-baptist/)

I was telling a friend of mine a couple of weeks ago that between the recent ESPN piece on Mizzou and a few other on and off the field issues, I was really struggling with my faith in my Tigers. This week has restored my faith. Our teams, administrators and students may not always do the right thing and might not always be the best -- but I have faith that they try their hardest at both. I'm proud of them.

[Lathum]

It's not that hard when you have a state as ass-backwards as Kansas has shown itself to be this week. I never thought we'd see a time when Missouri actually looked progressive in regards to this topic. I was wrong and then Kansas leadership went out of their way to distance themselves even further from reality.

This we can agree with.

[sterlingice]

Media accounts range from 500 to 2,000, from what I've seen and hear the answer is somewhere in the middle. Junior was there along with other family members but no confirmation if Senior was there or not.

Students ‘Stand with Sam’ against Westboro Baptist – The Maneater (http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2014/2/15/students-stand-sam-against-westboro-baptist/)

I was telling a friend of mine a couple of weeks ago that between the recent ESPN piece on Mizzou and a few other on and off the field issues, I was really struggling with my faith in my Tigers. This week has restored my faith. Our teams, administrators and students may not always do the right thing and might not always be the best -- but I have faith that they try their hardest at both. I'm proud of them.

That was pretty cool to read about. My wife has passed along some other stories (she went to Missouri). Kudos to Mizzou

SI

[kcchief19]

Welp, WBC has hit a new low. I don't know how national the story has gone, but in my hometown of Springfield, Mo., a 10-year-old girl was abducted Wednesday and murdered. The alleged murderer was a football coach and paraprofessional at a local middle school (my school, where I went K-8, by the way). The details are fairly gruesome.

First, WBC sends it's obligatory tweet blaming her death on Michael Sam. Naturally.

Next, WBC says they will picket the candlelight vigil planned for Saturday night. Springfield is a very conservative and religious town. There are actually probably quite a few people who like WBC except for the protesting military funerals.

But I'm very worried about what happens Saturday. That town has been rocked and shattered by this crime. Protesting the vigil is going to get ugly. I'm worried emotions might get out of control.

Really hope these clowns back out.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I'm guessing this confirms that it was his son that I saw at the Mizzou protest. So what's the protest going to look like of Fred's funeral??????

Report: Fred Phelps, founder of Westboro Baptist Church, near death – LGBTQ Nation (http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2014/03/report-fred-phelps-founder-of-westboro-baptist-church-near-death/)

[molson]

I So what's the protest going to look like of Fred's funeral??????


Many many provocatively-dressed gay people everywhere.

Which is too bad, because that's exactly what he'd want. To get that attention, to embolden his followers, to compel donations.

[cartman]

One of his estranged sons said that Fred Sr. was excommunicated from the Westboro church in August of last year.

[DaddyTorgo]

One of his estranged sons said that Fred Sr. was excommunicated from the Westboro church in August of last year.

Yeah I saw that interview and I was really confused by that. Who would have excommunicated him, and for what possible reason? Was he not hateful enough?

[Matthean]

The sad thing is even after he is gone, the church will remain in its current state.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

The sad thing is even after he is gone, the church will remain in its current state.

Most generally believe that won't be the case. There was a lot of fragmenting of the family already starting to show. We could easily see a split 2-3 ways in the months afterwards. Just way too many stupid people involved to know for sure in the end.

[Blackadar]

Well, the fucker is dead. Good riddance. If I ever happen to be in the area where he's buried, I'll be sure to come by and piss on his grave.

[Kodos]

:banana: :funkychickendance:

[NobodyHere]

“I've never killed a man, but I've read many an obituary with a great deal of satisfaction.”
― Clarence Darrow (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31156.Clarence_Darrow)

[Lathum]

I hope it hurt in the end

[ISiddiqui]

Lord, give us the strength to pray for our enemies and wrap your loving arms around Phelps and his family and give them peace.

[kcchief19]

We continue to give this group more notoriety than they deserve. WBC was a fairly influential group at one time among similarly believers, and when the WBC came to town you'd often see locals join them. All you needed was a Phelps family member to fly in to town and people would join in.

Once they started the military pickets and rhetoric around that, their support vanished. Now WBC pickets are almost entirely church members on a bus coming to town. Sometimes you'll have locals, but they are just as kooky as WBC.

Maybe now that he's dead we'll stop giving them publicity and ignore them.

[stevew]

Shirley is the real problem.

[cartman]

God Hates Freds

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Funny response from the church members at the end of the article.

Westboro Baptist Church left confused by 'Sorry for your loss' counter-protest - The Week (http://theweek.com/article/index/258562/speedreads-westboro-baptist-church-left-confused-by-sorry-for-your-loss-counter-protest)

[Thomkal]

If you are going to protest something that happened in another country, at least get the right country:

Westboro Baptist Church Accidentally Hates The Ivory Coast - UNILAD (http://www.unilad.co.uk/articles/westboro-baptist-church-accidentally-hates-the-ivory-coast/)

[BillJasper]

If you are going to protest something that happened in another country, at least get the right country:

Westboro Baptist Church Accidentally Hates The Ivory Coast - UNILAD (http://www.unilad.co.uk/articles/westboro-baptist-church-accidentally-hates-the-ivory-coast/)

The Ivory Coast knows what it did! :lol:

[Kodos]

We're not dealing with the brightest people here.

[Thomkal]

The Ivory Coast knows what it did! :lol:

I sure they are shaking in fear and embarrassment from drawing Westboro's IRE :)