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The father of a U.S. marine killed in Iraq is taking an anti-gay religious group to the Supreme Court after they picketed his son's funeral with hate messages. Albert Snyder is among the hundreds of grieving families who have been targeted by the Westboro Baptist Church, which claims military deaths are punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality.
He has been embroiled in a four year battle to sue the church, led by preacher Fred Phelps, after it disrupted the 2006 funeral of his son, 20, with signs reading 'God Hates F**s' and 'Thank God for dead soldiers.' The group targets the funerals of soldiers regardless of their sexuality, to bring publicity to their campaign. Last month Mr Snyder was ordered to pay £11,000 in legal costs to the church after a decision to award him £5million for 'emotional distress' was overturned on appeal. A court ruled the protesters were exercising their First Amendment right to free speech. Now Mr Snyder, of York, near Philadelphia, is taking the case to the Supreme Court in the hope of getting the original award reinstated.
Mr Snyder will argue Phelps and his followers are disrupting private assemblies and harassing people at their most vulnerable - behavior that's an incitement to violence. His lawsuit accuses the church in Topeka, Kansas, of invading his privacy and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.
'This is more than free speech. This is like yelling, 'Fire!' in a crowded theater. Somebody's going to get hurt,' Snyder said.
'It's still very emotional.' 'It's like I constantly relive this every day, and I just wonder sometimes, when this is all over, what I'm going to do with that void. Will the grieving process begin?' He has attracted support from across the country, including financial donations. Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly pledged to pay his entire legal costs and the American Legion has raised more than $20,000 (£13,000.) Mr Snyder plans to use the money for other court fees and to donate what's left over to veterans. The religious group consists of about 80 people, most of whom are related to Pastor Phelps. His daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, said there was no doubt the court would favour Westboro when the case is heard later this year. 'If that case can prevail, there is no First Amendment left,' she said.
Mail Foreign Service (Dailymail.co.uk) – 13 April 2010.
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