Some people just deserve to burn in hell...

[polksda]

... and I don't mean the bikers.

Motorcyclists Roll to Soldiers' Funerals

By RYAN LENZ

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (Feb. 21) - Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters.

They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.

Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.

The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.

"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."

At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters, who at a recent memorial service at Fort Campbell wrapped themselves in upside-down American flags. They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers.

The Patriot Guard was also there, waving up a ruckus of support for the families across the street. Community members came in the freezing rain to chant "U-S-A, U-S-A" alongside them.

"This is just the right thing to do. This is something America didn't do in the '70s," said Kurt Mayer, the group's national spokesman. "Whether we agree with why we're over there, these soldiers are dying to protect our freedoms."

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a daughter of Fred Phelps and an attorney for the Topeka, Kan.-based church, said neither state laws nor the Patriot Guard can silence their message that God killed the soldiers because they fought for a country that embraces homosexuals.

"The scriptures are crystal clear that when God sets out to punish a nation, it is with the sword. An IED is just a broken-up sword," Phelps-Roper said. "Since that is his weapon of choice, our forum of choice has got to be a dead soldier's funeral."

The church, Westboro Baptist Church, is not affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Fred Phelps' extended family members.

During the 1990s, church members were known mostly for picketing the funerals of AIDS victims, and they have long been tracked as a hate group by the Montgomery, Ala.-based Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project.

The project's deputy director, Heidi Beirich, said other groups have tried to counter Phelps' message, but none has been as organized as the Patriot Guard.

"I'm not sure anybody has gone to this length to stand in solidarity," she said. "It's nice that these veterans and their supporters are trying to do something. I can't imagine anything worse, your loved one is killed in Iraq and you've got to deal with Fred Phelps."

Kentucky, home to sprawling Fort Campbell along the Tennessee line, was among the first states to attempt to deal with Phelps legislatively. Its House and Senate have each passed bills that would limit people from protesting within 300 feet of a funeral or memorial service. The Senate version would also keep protesters from being within earshot of grieving friends and family members.

Richard Wilbur, a retired police detective, said his Indiana Patriot Guard group only comes to funerals if invited by family. He said he has no problem with protests against the war but sees no place for objectors at a family's final goodbye to a soldier.

"No one deserves this," he said.


2/21/2006 06:12:36

[Demiurge]

We've been sending that biker group donations at another board I frequent. God Bless them.

[StopherJJ1980]

I love how every critic of America says how evil it is and this and that is wrong and Bush sucks yadda yadda yadda... But they are all hypocrites in the end because they live here and dont choose to move.

They dont really want to change things, they just want everyone to know how angry and bitter they are and wont be happy until everyone else is just as angry and bitter as them.

This is yet another example of that...

America has it's problems, but it is the best country in the world. If you dont like it you have two options. Change the behaviors and opinions of 250 million people or move. So I say if you dont like it, F-ing move to another country and make them miserable with all your protesting.

[ohskigod]

where's a well trained sniper when you need one.

pick em off one at a time. that should wrap up the problem nicely. I dont normally advocate such things, but when you cross a line, you cross a line. not many would argue this isnt crossing a line

[deepinya]

-- deleted for language --

[Polk65]

"At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters..." -- Ryan Lenz

I thought it was illegal (against a law) to disrupt a funeral motorcade. If there are no laws on the books that apply all the way to the grave, there should be. If there are laws and LEO are not doing their jobs, well... how about sedition? We wouldn't want to offend anyone since we're not at war, right? How about the 1st Amendment, protesters are allowed free speech, right? The 1st gets bent when it conflicts with other laws such as noise around a hospital or during quiet hours at night so why not while burying the dead?

It's not as simple to say, leave the U.S.A. if you don't like it. The problem with these retards is they enjoy their liberties too much and believe that if they don't bother anyone, no one will bother them. Most of these people live shallow lives, and this is all that they have. Pretty sad existence IMO.

[Toxis]

"reverend" phelps needs to have the ever living piss beat out of him. Living in KS, I have encountered this assclown on a couple occasions. The only time I wasn't in the car (shouting names at him of course), it was at a Steven Wright comedy show. For some reason, Phelps was there protesting. So my brother and I hold hands and skip right in the middle of them saying "We're gay, we're brothers, we're proud!" I swear I haven't laughed that hard in my whole damn life. Of course I'm not gay but it sure was fun to play for a bit!!!

[VR3]

Hmm, this seems similar to the folks that were infront of our school last year...

They should be hanged.

[george daniel]

Funeral protestors? Where I come from,you would get your ass whipped for alot less. Have they no RESPECT?

[bobman1235]

We've been sending that biker group donations at another board I frequent. God Bless them.

Got a link to a website or anything?

[PolkThug]

"reverend" phelps needs to have the ever living piss beat out of him.

They used to get beat up, then they started carrying video cameras everywhere, and half of the Phelps are lawyers...

Everybody in Topeka hates them, as the shirts say "Phuck Phred"

[cfrizz]

I agree 100%!

The entire church that has that family in it, should be picked up enmasse & dumped in Iraq right on top of one of those bombs!

Jerks!

where's a well trained sniper when you need one.

pick em off one at a time. that should wrap up the problem nicely. I dont normally advocate such things, but when you cross a line, you cross a line. not many would argue this isnt crossing a line

[dorokusai]

Got a link to a website or anything?

Patriot Guard Riders

[goingganzo]

yes these kids volenteer to defend orur nation and our freedoms and when they die in acton it is a sad thing they are dieing to protect your safty and freedome

[MSkeezer]

It's people like this that make me feel ashamed to be a Christian

[pmckeealaska]

While I agree with all on this topic, I have to take issue with goinggonzo saying the soldiers over there are protecting our freedoms. First of all, noone in Iraq was threatening our freedoms, and second of all, and this is the thing that gets me the most, in a recent poll, only 6% of all americans even know what are "freedoms" are. Very few can name even one amendment in the bill of rights. So, to say they ar eover there protecting our freedoms is the biggest joke on earth. They are brave, no doubt about it, and I support them, but noone in this country was in danger of being attacked by Iraq, and everyone knows it. Ok....sorry for the rant.

[MSkeezer]

Here we go... *grabs popcorn*