Op/Ed: Does a family not have the right to grieve? Funeral protesters strike once again

The hatemongers have came out once again to disrupt a time of grief. The latest stunt has sent one member off to jail, this time for allowing, if not encouraging, her 10-year-old son to stomp on an American flag during a supposed demonstration.

This is Nebraska’s flag law: “A person commits the offense of mutilating a flag if such person intentionally casts contempt or ridicule upon a flag by mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, or trampling upon such flag.” This hate group that goes by the name Westboro Baptist Church that is so eager to fling hate and promote bigotry should have read up on the laws of the state they were invading. The members arrive at funerals of military personnel to spew their hate filled views at the family and friends of the person being laid to rest. This time the police were on hand before the funeral was to occur and an officer observed the young boy stomping on the flag. The incident occurred about an hour before the funeral was to occur and also the subsequent arrest of the boys mother Shirley Phelps-Roper happened soon after.

“To come into that environment and communicate what I would call fighting words — provocative language and acts — you can’t do that,” Polikov said. “You might illicit a violent response. That’s against community peace and community law.”

(Lee Polikov is a Sarpy County Attorney)

Phelps-Roper was arrested because she was involved in a potentially volatile situation in the presence of friends, relatives and fellow soldiers of the deceased. Bellevue has a strong military presence, with Offutt Air Force Base located at the south edge of town.

She was booked and and released soon after by posting the $150 bail. Shirley Phelpes-Roper is going to be charged with flag mutilation, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and also a negligent child abuse charge may be brought against her because she put her son in a dangerous situation. Phelps-Ropers says that she allowed her son to stand on the flag and that it is protected by the U.S. constitution, she plans to fight the states flag law in court. Shirley is also the daughter of Fred Phelps the supposed reverend that founded this Westboro Baptist Church who's members are mostly family and relatives of this man. Mainly because of this group 38 states including Nebraska have been forced to implement laws on just how close protesters can get to funerals. Their ( attacks oops ) protests have occurred in 43 states so far and they have shoved their ranting and disgusting signs in the faces of people trying to send their missed loved ones off at over 280 funerals. Darkness dwellers to the core and filled with gleeful hate. Roaches rushing in to fill their bellies on the misery that they promote. I have deliberately omitted the name of the serviceman and his family as I feel it is not needed in this post. I would rather not place their names in the same post as these bottom feeders. They are suffering enough with the loss of their loved one. May they one day find peace. If you must know the person's name and family name you can follow the link to the source and find it there. You will also find disgusting signage they are known to bring with them to the protests.