You are here: Home » Featured » Westboro Baptist’s Lawyer Calls Church’s Stance On Funeral Protests “Hysterical Opinion”

Westboro Baptist’s Lawyer Calls Church’s Stance On Funeral Protests “Hysterical Opinion”

07/08/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Margie Jean Phelps is the lead attorney for the Westboro Baptist Church and the daughter of Fred Phelps, its founder. The cult-like church is arguing that their protesting of the funerals of slain soldier’s funerals is protected by the First Amendment. She has argued that the protests were not disruptive, were far enough away that no one at the funeral could hear or see them, and they were on a public street when they protested. According to the brief filed by Miss Phelps “[Albert Snyder] was able to go to and leave the funeral without any slightest disruption or interference. WBC was out of sight and sound; maintained a very reasonable distance; acted peacefully and engaged in no disruption or intrusion. … This is the wrong case to decide whether there is a privacy interest in a funeral.” Snyder was aware of their presence none the less.

She has also stated that the funeral was a public event and that the church was not saying anything provable, but that their statements were “hyperbolic, figurative, loose, hysterical opinion.”

Forty-eight of the Fifty states and Washington, DC have filed amicus briefs in support of Snyder. They feel the need to protect the sanctity of funerals.

WBC is known for picketing the funerals of slain soldiers from America’s twin wars with signs reading “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and “You’re Going to Hell.” Their anti-LGBT messages have been the butt of many a joke and counter protest in recent years. Many of their protests have been reduced to a handful of picketers facing off against ten, and even a hundred times as many counter protesters.