Missouri City Attempts to Thwart Westboro Baptist Church Protests
A St. Louis suburb has become the latest municipality to enact an ordinance geared toward ending hateful protests like the ones for which the controversial Westboro Baptist Church is known.
A St. Louis suburb has become the latest municipality to enact an ordinance geared toward ending hateful protests like the ones for which the controversial Westboro Baptist Church is known. The ordinance, unanimously passed by the Webster Groves City Council, bars protesters from picketing within 300 feet of a funeral or burial site during a service and right before and after one.
Your support matters…The Huffington Post:
Webster Groves is one of many communities attempting to thwart the offensive protests by groups like Westboro. In 2012, another St. Louis suburb — Manchester, Mo. — got an official ruling from the federal appeals court allowing the city to limit funeral protestors. In North Carolina, lawmakers passed legislation aimed at preventing funeral protestors in February.
Despite being known for its controversial protests, Westboro has failed in some of its recent demonstrations.
In December, the group announced plans to protest the vigils for victims of the Newtown tragedy, though the protest was ultimately blocked. The group mounted a protest during President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, but had a weak turnout and the protest failed.
Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.
You can help level the playing field. Become a member.
Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.
Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.
Tornadoes, thunderstorms and high winds cause severe damage and power outages. Deaths reported in Louisiana, Alabama and Texas.
In our broken political system, majorities often can't translate the will of the people into action. Gerrymandering helps explain why.
After a Trump executive order they are caught between immigration hardliners and Christian evangelicals who believe in helping migrants.
Not only do they encourage military indiscipline and stain the country’s reputation, but they are guaranteed to make us all less safe.
On the fifth anniversary of his son's death at the hands of Ferguson, Mo., police, Michael Brown Sr. claims that "justice has not been served."
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.