Friday, June 29, 2012
In the comments section, tell Patch what local residents should do in response to Westboro Baptist Church's threats to protest funeral for fallen soldiers
Nationally-recognized hate group Westboro Baptist Church has announced plans to protest the funerals of three fallen South Carolina soldiers. The Topeka, Kansas-based group, known for celebrating the deaths of American soldiers, posted press releases on its website detailing plans to "preach" at a "lawful proxmitiy" outside the funerals of 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl, Spc. John D. Meador II, both of Lexington, and Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford “Brad” Thomas of Easley. The three soldiers were killed last Wednesday when a suicide bomber attacked their patrol in Afghanistan. Five other South Carolina guardsmen were also injured in the blast. How do you think local residents should respond to Westboro's threats? Patch wants you to sound-off in the …
Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokesperson for Westboro Baptist Church and the daughter of the church's leader Fred Phelps, posted picket information Friday afternoon for the funeral of Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford “Brad” Thomas of Easley.
While the picket of an Upstate soldier's funeral doesn't appear on a nationally-recognized hate group's schedule, plans to do so were announced via Twitter by a leader of the group. Around 12:50 p.m. Friday, Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokesperson for Westboro Baptist Church and the daughter of the church's leader Fred Phelps, tweeted the following: "Westboro Funeral Pkt-ArmySgt.1st Class Matthew B.Thomas 7/1 @ 2:30 PM Rock Springs Baptist, Easley,SC." The tweet arrived the same day that members of the community gathered to pay tribute to Thomas, lining the streets of Easley with signs and flags as the motorcade escorting his body traveled through the town. Patch reported on Thursday evening that the Topeka, Kansas-based hate group, known for…
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The hate group, which has made a name for itself by celebrating the deaths of American soldiers, posted plans to protest the funeral services of 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl and Spc. John D. Meador II.
Westboro Baptist Church has announced plans to protest Saturday outside the funerals of two fallen Midlands soldiers. The Topeka, Kansas-based hate group, known for celebrating the deaths of American soldiers, posted two press releases on its website detailing plans to "preach" at a "lawful proxmitiy" outside the funerals of 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl and Spc. John D. Meador II. Rawl and Meador, along with Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford “Brad” Thomas of Easley were killed last Wednesday when a suicide bomber attacked their patrol in Afghanistan. Five other South Carolina guardsmen were also injured in the blast. At this time, the services are not listed on the group's picket schedule but the location and times were prominently featured in the …
Wilton F
12:51 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Yes Carolyn and I'll be there again today God Bless our Service Men and Women and God Bless America more ›