Well, hold on. It was an offensive protest, but it was a protest. Are only politcally-correct protests allowed? I don't know much about this Fred Phelps, and his followers seem altogether unpleasant, but I'm not sure that this suit was a good thing.
As in many areas of the law, put simply, your right to swing your fist ends where my face begins. It's up to the fact-finder (judge or jury) in each individual case to determine where, exactly my face begins. First Amendment jurisprudence traditionally grants a wide latitude for content, but not quite as wide for time and place; the Constitution guarantees you freedom of speech, but not a venue or an audience.
There's little question the "church" will appeal. It should be very interesting to see what happens when a panel of experienced appellate judges has the case.
I'm certain that no money will ever leave the coffers of crazy "rev." Phelps as he'll just keep on appealing. Each appeal will give him another platform from which to spew his hateful message. On the other hand they're easy to make fun of as evidenced by this Australian comedy show... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8cN2pB3MCE Anon
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-11-05 07:40 pm (UTC)Nice to see Phelps finally getting his Karmic payback. He's such an asshole.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-05 07:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-05 08:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-05 08:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-05 09:16 pm (UTC)There's little question the "church" will appeal. It should be very interesting to see what happens when a panel of experienced appellate judges has the case.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-05 09:55 pm (UTC)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8cN2pB3MCE
Anon
no subject
Date: 2007-11-07 09:19 am (UTC)