WASHINGTON — On an 8-1 vote, the Supreme Court ruled this morning that fundamentalist church members from the Topeka Westboro Baptist Church who stage loud, abrasive anti-gay protests outside military funerals are protected by the First Amendment. They say U.S. servicemen deserve to die because of Americans’ tolerance for homosexuality. The father of a Maryland marine killed in Iraq filed the lawsuit against the church – saying the group inflicted emotional distress on him and his family. A jury agreed and awarded hefty damages to the family against Fred Phelps and his church. However, the justices reversed the verdict and jury award, saying that the group can’t be punished for speech dealing with political or moral matters. ABC News reported that Justice Samuel Alito penned an angry dissent, saying the First amendment is not a license for vicious verbal assault – but Chief Justice John Roberts’ majority opinion found even hurtful speech on public issues can’t be stifled. Church member Margie Phelps, daughter of Fred Phelps, was unrepentant, thanking the marine‘s for the extra notoriety and denied that her group was being unkind. “We are trying to warn you to flee the wrath of God,” she said. “Flee eternal destruction. What could be more kind than that?”
Wednesday, March 2, 7 p.m.
