The paterfamilias of this devil hive
Posted on 01/27/2008 5:13:53 AM PST by W04Man
Church group draws counterprotest
Law enforcment prevents physical interaction
BY HEATHER GALE
January 26, 2008 - 7:24PM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Five people versus 40.
The notorious protesting church, Westboro Baptist Church, turned out five women, — two older and three who appeared to be in their late teens or early twenties — to express their viewpoints about the Marine Corps and the circumstances surrounding the death of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach.
However, more than 40 counterprotesters were across the street from the church members on Lejeune Boulevard, holding signs and supporting the military.
Many of the supporters of the troops said they were shocked at how few members from the Topeka, Kan., church showed up as they yelled out, “Where are your men?” and “One, two, three, four, God loves the Marine Corps!”
The verbally sparring groups shouted back and forth to one another as they each sang songs and held signs supporting their causes.
Col. Adele Hodges, commanding officer of Camp Lejeune, had advised Marines to stay away from the protest, but many friends, wives, children and other family members showed up to support the troops.
Dawn Wellman, 30, of Jacksonville, was one of the vocal supporters of the troops. “We can’t just let them come out here and (protest),” she said. “We have to stand up for what is right.”
Wellman said she was very angry when she heard the church group was coming to protest the military.
“I can’t believe they would and try to take advantage of the family’s loss,” she said. Members of the church had signs that said “God is your enemy” and were wearing, standing and dancing on and spitting on the U.S. flag.
Katie Rasmussen, of Jacksonville, said she was wondering why the protesters weren’t getting tickets or being arrested for desecrating the flag.
It is a Class 2 misdemeanor for anyone to mutilate, defile, deface or trample upon the U.S. flag or the North Carolina state flag, according to the N.C. General Statute 14.381.
Federal law on respect for the flag says no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or merchandise; and it should never be used as wearing apparel. Police officers said they were not going to arrest the protesters for their behavior with the flags.
Jacksonville Police Department Capt. Patricia Driggers said the department had consulted before Saturday’s protest with the District Attorney’s Office, which decided that those types of charges should not be pursued because the group has taken several cases regarding similar charges to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Jeff Workman, 35, of Jacksonville, and Jennifer Farrar, 29, of Jacksonville said as much as they disagree with what the church group is saying, they do have the right to protest.
“(The church group), however, also has the right to hear opposition, and that is why I am here,” Farrar said. “I was in disbelief when I heard they were coming. To me, they seem more like attention seekers than ones who are trying to get a message across.”
Laurie Haydel, 51, and her grandson Jordan, both of Jacksonville, said they were at the counterprotest to stand up for their God, the country and the military.
“Why would anyone come to a military town who didn’t believe in the military,” she said. “God does not hate everyone. He loves everyone and loves the military.”
Both Haydel and her grandson said they think the church members should be sent to Iraq and try to fend for themselves.
“I bet that they would be running toward the first American military person they saw,” Haydel said.
Jacksonville Police Department, military personnel, state troopers and a Wilmington Mounted Police unit that offered to come blocked off Lejeune Boulevard in front of the protesters and only allowed one escorted person at a time to walk by the protesters. People were advised by the police to not talk to the protesters and were told they could not stand near them.
Driggers said the police were present just as a safety precaution. She said she is happy that, in the end, everyone abided by the rules and that everything went peacefully.
Driggers said no one knew the names of the protesters present, and the only communications from them came through an attorney when planning the protest.
The church members left a few minutes before noon and were escorted by police. The Daily News was unable to get comments from the members.
Staff writer Amanda Hickey contributed to this report.
Whoooo hoooo!!!
These Democrats are from a CHURCH?
That picture of Phelps with Algore reminds me that Westboro must be Gore’s church.
Ever gone to the web site www.godhatesamerica.com?
WooHoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The paterfamilias of this devil hive
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