NO MORE PROTESTS AT MILITARY FUNERALS
Randy L. Harrington
May 30, 2006
WASHINGTON - President Bush before a Memorial Day speech and a wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery signed the ”Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act” as a response to the protests of a Kansas church group that staged protests at military funerals around the country. The Kansas group claims that the deaths symbolized God’s anger at U.S. tolerance of homosexuals.
Bush’s new law bans protests within 300 feet of the entrance of a national cemetery and within 150 feet of a road into the cemetery. The new executive law bans protests an hour before until an hour after a funeral. Violators would face a $100,000 fine and a year in prison.
The Memorial Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery was not a funeral, so demonstrators were free to demonstrate.
Ten protestors from FreeRepublic.com, a self-proclaimed grass-roots conservative group held signs at the entrance to Arlington cemetery that supported U.S. troops.
Facing FreeRepublic.com protestors were a handful of anti-gay protestors who stood across the highway.
FreeRepulic.com protestors were trying to counter the demonstrations of the Kansas-based church group that was led by Reverend Fred Phelps. Phelps has previously organized protests against those who have died of AIDS as well as gay murder victim Matthew Sheppard.
When the new law was passed by the House, and signed by the President Phelps charged that Congress was violating his First Amendment rights. Phelps said that he would continue to protest but would abide by the law’s restrictions.
Bush’s new law bans protests within 300 feet of the entrance of a national cemetery and within 150 feet of a road into the cemetery. The new executive law bans protests an hour before until an hour after a funeral. Violators would face a $100,000 fine and a year in prison.
The Memorial Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery was not a funeral, so demonstrators were free to demonstrate.
Ten protestors from FreeRepublic.com, a self-proclaimed grass-roots conservative group held signs at the entrance to Arlington cemetery that supported U.S. troops.
Facing FreeRepublic.com protestors were a handful of anti-gay protestors who stood across the highway.
FreeRepulic.com protestors were trying to counter the demonstrations of the Kansas-based church group that was led by Reverend Fred Phelps. Phelps has previously organized protests against those who have died of AIDS as well as gay murder victim Matthew Sheppard.
When the new law was passed by the House, and signed by the President Phelps charged that Congress was violating his First Amendment rights. Phelps said that he would continue to protest but would abide by the law’s restrictions.