Westboro Baptist Church Faces Opposition
By Madhusmita, Gaea News NetworkWednesday, January 12, 2011
TUCSON (GaeaTimes.com)- When all the Americans are mourning at the unfortunate demise of the Arizona shooting victims, the members of Westboro Baptist Church plans to protest this week at the funerals of these victims. However, the media outlets reported that Arizona State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema has already drafted a legislation which would require the members of Westboro Baptist Church to stay 300 ft away from the funerals 1 hour before it starts and ends. Moreover, the people of Arizona have also joined hands to block these protesters from picketing the funerals of Arizona shooting victims.
Kyrsten Sinema told a reputed media source that the emergency legislation has already been passed unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives so that Westboro Baptist Church Members do not harm anyone at the funeral service. Kyrsten Sinema said that it is really said for the country that during this difficult time, people will have to deal with such thing. The Senator also added that passing this legislation was one of the “horrific” things that the members had to do to restrain these Westboro Baptist Church picketers.
Governor Jan Brewer signed the legislation on Tuesday evening to block the Westboro Baptist Church members from rallying into the funeral. House Speaker Kirk Adams said that picketing or protesting outside the funeral is something “despicable” and he would never approve of it. On the other hand, State Representative Kyrsten Sinema said that though she is a strong supporter of First Amendment but she would not support Fred Phelps(leader of Westboro Baptist Church) and his group to go close to the victims’ families, who are grieving. On the other hand, Fred Phelps wrote in his website that Westboro Baptist Church will picket the funerals as this is the “ultimatum of God”.
