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| Hells Angels May Cordon Off Westboro Church Funeral Protesters |
| 2011-01-12 |
| It's not clear whether the Westboro church intends to picket the funerals of all the victims of Saturday's attack. One press release from the group declared, "Thank God for the shooter," and said the group would picket the "funerals." Another release announced plans only for the protest on Thursday. "God sent the shooter to deal with idolatrous America," the group said in a statement. The Westboro church, led by Fred Phelps, believes that tragic events like the deaths of soldiers are punishment for tolerance of homosexuality. The Supreme Court last fall heard arguments in a case brought against Phelps by the father of a soldier killed in Iraq whose funeral was protested by the group in 2006. The father, Albert Snyder, had won a multimillion-dollar verdict against the church, claiming invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The court is expected to issue a ruling soon on whether free speech can be curbed at specific locations and events. Sinema said the bill she was introducing is modeled on an Ohio law that has withstood court challenge. It would technically apply to protesters at any Arizona funeral, though Sinema was clear that it's directed at Westboro. She said she hopes the protesters and counter-protesters avoid any violence at the service. Meanwhile, several grassroots groups have popped up on Facebook calling on Tucson residents to intervene. "We will create a wall of humanity to allow the families who've lost their love ones to hold their funerals in peace, held with dignity, and surrounded in love," one of the Facebook groups says in a statement. Another calls for a "peaceful protest" of the church at the funeral Thursday for 9-year-old Christina Green. Littell has notified the Pima County Sheriff's Department and has reached out to several other biker groups notifying them of their planned presence at Green's funeral. He crossed his fingers that the Hells Angels would join them. "Nothing says stand back and be silent like a Hells Angels presence," he said. Littell added that if the church moves on to picket other funerals, his riders will follow. "We're getting word there's gonna be a pretty large presence of bikers," he said. "Word's spreading. And spreading quickly." |
| Posted by:Shitch Phunter7001 |
| #12 I am not going to be in town. I wish I was. The Angels would certainly enjoy a Night Stalker among the bikes and patriots causing difficulties to the loonies. I'm sure this cause will see many colors in the line. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2011-01-12 23:56 |
| #11 Some of each perhaps. More of one, methinks. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2011-01-12 22:00 |
| #10 I'd just put them in stocks out behind the local jail and forget about them until after the bikers had gone home for the evening. |
| Posted by: gorb 2011-01-12 20:31 |
| #9 If I were a lawman I would claim that I had credible threats to their persons and I need to take them in custody for there well being. I would then ensure they were put in cells with your Hells Angels, gang-bangers, and neo-nazi types. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2011-01-12 18:51 |
| #8 Does the funeral come under the Jurisdiction of Sheriff Dipshit? Hope not. In that case the good sheriff would probably give as much security as he gave the Congresswoman. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2011-01-12 17:54 |
| #7 I think you've found the answer, Cyber Sarge. |
| Posted by: gorb 2011-01-12 16:55 |
| #6 I am not one to cozy up to the Hells Angels, but i do like the idea of anyone attempting to stop the Westboro inbred "church". But couldn't the local law enforcement take them into protective custody before the funeral(s) and release them afterwards? |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2011-01-12 14:40 |
| #5 Two articles this am - sorry don't have URLs: 1) Arizona passes law against picketing funerals 2) Phelps Phuckers say they graciously won't picket the girl's funeral. |
| Posted by: Mercutio 2011-01-12 14:24 |
| #4 pretty sure 49Pan isnt a Hells Angel. Another type perhaps, but not Hells.... |
| Posted by: 746 2011-01-12 10:04 |
| #3 Didn't work too well at Altamont, not that this was any fault of the Angels. The guy who was stabbed was high as a kite on meth, armed with a "long barreled revolver" and brandishing it, maybe even fired it, and had murderous intent against anyone on stage he could have attacked. The Angel parried the gun and stabbed him, and was acquitted at trial on grounds of self-defense. It helped immensely that the event, and the deceased holding his gun, was caught on film. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-01-12 09:39 |
| #2 Wear your colors Pan. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2011-01-12 09:14 |
| #1 Heh heh. I imagine lots of Hell's Angels. And not a police officer to be found. |
| Posted by: gorb 2011-01-12 03:12 |