|
Bush bans anti-gay funeral protests
US President George W. Bush signed a law that bans protests at military funerals, in a bid to counter a group that has staged anti-gay demonstrations at ceremonies for soldiers killed in Iraq. Mr Bush signed the law, already passed by Congress, as the US marked Memorial Day, a national holiday devoted to commemorating the country's war dead from all conflicts. The White House said Mr Bush had signed the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, which follows months of controversial protests by a hardline group of Baptists from Kansas.  The group has turned up at scores of funerals across the country holding banners saying the war dead are "God's wrath" at US tolerance for homosexuals. Politicians and veterans groups have expressed disgust at the protests.The new law "prohibits certain demonstrations at cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration and at Arlington National Cemetery, and provides for punishment of such demonstrations as misdemeanours," the White House said. "I'm pleased the president has acted so quickly to sign this bill so that we can ensure families are able to honour their heroic loved ones in peace and with the dignity they deserve," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said in a statement. The measure bans protests within 100m of the entrance of a national cemetery and 50m from a road into the cemetery. The ban applies an hour before until an hour after a funeral. The law allows for a fine of $US100,000 ($132,000) and up to a year in prison for violators. It does not name any group but is clearly aimed at the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, which has achieved worldwide notoriety through the protests. Posted by: tipper 2006-05-29 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=154200 |