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Limiting speech at funerals: analysis and proposal for jurisprudence.
- Article from:
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Jones Law Review
- Article date:
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March 22, 2007
- Author:
- Rayfield, Cindy
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Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2007 Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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INTRODUCTION
The members of Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), led by Pastor Fred Phelps, believe that God is punishing America. (1) The church members consist mostly of Pastor Phelps's family, and they believe that America's acceptance of homosexuality and general moral decline is causing God to punish the country through events such as the September 11th attacks, (2) Hurricane Katrina, (3) and the war in Iraq. (4) For years, WBC has proclaimed its gospel by picketing different catastrophes. (5) Shortly after September 11, 2001, WBC members were in New York City holding signs that read, "THANK GOD FOR SEPT. 11" and "FDNY IS A FAG FIRE DEPARTMENT." (6)
WBC shares its ...