Westboro Baptist Church Goes To Mississippi – And Loses
On Saturday USMC Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers, who was killed in action in Afghanistan April 7, was buried in Brandon, Mississippi.
That, by itself, is a sadly unremarkable – though certainly noteworthy and solemn – occasion for us to mark.
And in fact when Sgt. Rogers’ body returned to Brandon it was greeted by hundreds, or perhaps even thousands, of well-wishers who gathered at the roadside to honor the fallen American hero. The dashboard camera from Mississippi state trooper Elmo Townsend’s cruiser gives an indication of the scene last Thursday.
What is most notable about Sgt. Rogers’ funeral in Brandon, however, is what didn’t happen.
You see, the troglodytes from Westboro Baptist Church had threatened to spew their poison at Sgt. Rogers’ funeral.
But the Westboro mob wasn’t on the scene, and Sgt. Rogers was laid to rest without incident – thank God.
Why weren’t there protestors?
Planning ahead by the locals, as it turns out.
From an Ole Miss sports message board, a tidbit of information…
A couple of days before, one of them (Westboro protestors) ran his mouth at a Brandon gas station and got his arse waxed. Police were called and the beaten man could not give much of a description of who beat him. When they canvassed the station and spoke to the large crowd that had gathered around, no one seemed to remember anything about what had happened.
Rankin County handled this thing perfectly. There were many things that were put into place that most will never know about and at great expense to the county.
Most of the morons never made it out of their hotel parking lot. It seems that certain Rankin county pickup trucks were parked directly behind any car that had Kansas plates in the hotel parking lot and the drivers mysteriously disappeared until after the funeral was over. Police were called but their wrecker service was running behind and it was going to be a few hours before they could tow the trucks so the Kansas plated cars could get out.
A few made it to the funeral but were ushered away to be questioned about a crime they might have possibly been involved in. Turns out, after a few hours of questioning, that they were not involved and they were allowed to go on about their business.
Fred Phelps, the disbarred lawyer and Democrat activist who leads the Westboro congregation, will undoubtedly pursue some form of legal action for the way his people were thwarted in Brandon. Let him try. There isn’t a jury in Mississippi which will see things his way.
This is a template for how to handle the Westboro people. If lawsuits don’t work, other means will. Whatever it takes to keep them from harassing bereaved military families on the day their fallen loved ones are laid to rest.
UPDATE: Some of the feedback we’ve received from this piece came along the lines that it’s inappropriate to refer to Fred Phelps as a “Democrat activist.”
We stand by that characterization. If anything, it’s an understatement.
Fred Phelps ran for major office in Kansas as a Democrat no less than four times. He ran for governor on the Democrat ballot in 1990, 1994 and 1998 and for senator in 1992. Phelps received 11,000 votes, or seven percent, in 1990, he received 5,000 votes, or three percent, in 1994 and he picked up 15,000 votes, or 15 percent, in 1998. And in the senatorial contest in 1992 he garnered 49,000 votes, or 30 percent. Phelps furthermore ran as a Democrat candidate for mayor of Topeka in 1993 and 1997.
Phelps also has been closely associated with Al Gore on several occasions throughout Gore’s career – Phelps’ son Fred, Jr. was a Gore delegate at the 1988 Democrat convention and the Phelpses hosted a Gore fundraiser in Topeka that year. Phelps claims that Westboro members “ran” Gore’s 1988 campaign in Kansas.
Phelps may not fit within the typical definition of “Democrat activist” some of our readers expect – but a six-time Democrat candidate is an activist Democrat. That is quite clear, as unknown to the public as it might be.
Democrat activist? Hardly. Pathetic.
This radical group of blithering idiots plans to attend the funeral of U. S. Marine Lance Corporal Jason N. Barfield, 22 of Ashford, Alabama. I understand that they have been approached by a local radio station that has offered them an hour of airtime on Friday morning so that they will not attend and desecrate the service of this young man. The same young man who gave his life fighting for the rights that they shove in the faces of our law enforcement when they show up to harass and protest services of our fallen soldiers is the one that they intend to show the disrespect for. I can only say that I am so thankful that the Lord that I serve is not the same as the one that they supposedly serve. My God is a gracious and a loving God. But, let us not forget what He said in Deuteronomy 32:35 “To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
[...] and even town workers successfuly blocked one of their protests and well worth the short read: Westboro Baptist Church Goes To Mississippi – And Loses How many of these residents were Christians? We likely will never know. [...]
[...] on the site. We had a major traffic spike back in April of this year when we ran that piece about the folks in Brandon, Mississippi and how they bamboozled the Westboro Baptist Church picketers, and that post represented the vast majority of the page views on the site. In fact, [...]
Well now another one of our men will be brought home to Greenville MS And these IDIOTS are suppose to be there, well they might need to look up about us southern people, we DO NOT take this kind of crap from nobody!!! Dont bring ur ass down here cause we are all waiting on u!!
The Patriot Guard Riders will attend any wake, funeral or internment they are asked by family to attend. If the “church” is there they will stand in front of them. will not address them at all.
The “church” posted online they would be in Stamford,Conn to be at funeral of Navy Seal. PGR asked members to come and support the family. I went and there were people from at least 3 states. Those never showed up but since they had to be at least 300 yards away they wouldn’t have been seen since there were woods all around. There must have been 75 or more people there who held flags and standard bearers. fire dept and some scouts were there.
What struck me was when we saw the town all the American flags were at half staff! The town was proud of him!
I don’t think of it as a “church” but rather a cult.
One of my friends was looking for an apartment to share. the guy he was talking to asked him what his interests were. he mentioned PGR. the guy asked if he could call back. when he did he said he couldn’t take him since he was one of the protesters. That’s in Chicopee, Mass (near Springfield)
I agree with you entirely with the exception of the Democrat comment. I’m not disputing the fact that he’s a democrat. I’m wondering if your comment is to imply that other democrats condone Phelps behavior. I certainly don’t condone it and I would identify myself as a democrat. Some one who is not a Christian could make the argument that Phelps is a Christian therefor all Christians act/feel the way he does. Personally, I am not a Christian but I think his behavior is abhorrent and goes against the moral codes of most major religions as well as most cultures. I think that Phelps personal brand of religion and politics puts him in the same realm as Jim Jones. Phelps is an ignorant-egomanical-narcissistic freak that is the charismatic leader of a bunch of brain dead twats. Please don’t assume that all democrats find his behavior acceptable. He should be shut down. I have a great admiration for the county leaders and local people who showed up to defend their rights and the rights of the family of the fallen soldier not to be victims of Phelps insanity. Maybe if more people organized and responded in such a manner they could shut him down.
Unfortunately their poison has spread. I and friend are on PGR. he was looking for an apartment he could share. he was talking with a man who had one. he asked my friend what he liked to do. He answered and listed PGR among them. The man asked him to call back later. when he called back he told my friend he couldn’t since he was one of the “protesters”
I think they should be called a cult. the Baptist Church should tell them to take their name off the “church” or they would be sued. I hope it has denounced them and cut them off. if not why not?
Every once in awhile my homestate of Ms will surprise you and do the right thing. This time it did the very right thing; and the evil, stupid WBC put its tail between its legs and back to Kansas with Dorothy and Toto.
sorry, guess i missed why there was such an uproar. will you please re-state the problem? why would ANYONE dis-honor our brave soldiers, especially when he gave his life for them?
check out PGR – Patriot Guard Riders. They go to funerals for our heroes – vets included – at the request of the family. they go to give honor to them each person with a flag. If the “church” shows up they have to be a few hundred yards back but there is no restriction (to my knowledge) on the PGR.
Always knew I liked the state of Mississippi, now I love it. WTG & God Bless all who detained the idiots from Kansas.
I cant believe Anyone would protest at ANY funeral! Thats the most DISrespectful thing I have ever heard of. I’m glad the townspeople stood up to these morons now if Every Town would do this maybe they would crawl back under that rock and STAY THERE!!
problem is it isn’t just a protest. they call the heroes names I will not mention here and say they are defending a … country. they don’t care that they fight and die for their freedom to say those things.
How many times has David Duke of the KKK run as a Republican? Four times. He ran for various offices three times as a Democrat, and got no supposrt or attention. Then he switched to the Populist Party, and got less. Then he switched to the Republican party…and got elected. And he has remained a Republican since.
You may stand by your characterization; I stand by mine.
Though this piece is thoughtful and relatively provocative, the individual who wrote this should undoubtedly take a few Communication and Journalism classes as well as a seminar in standard English prose.
only proves that both parties have their share of head jobs!
These devil workers are going to be in Three Rivers, TX on March 31 at 12:15 PM to protest 2LT. Clovis T. Ray at Three Rivers High School. All you Texans go out and support Ray and his family if you can!
So glad they got what they deserved!
please…if I should fall…keep these people away from me, my family.
if I should fall please keep these people away from me and my family.
Done – I promise baby!!!!
If I die and these people show up have Uncle Marvin come with a bunch of his friends, bring the Patriot Gaurd and everyone who hates them can show up too.
Don't worry husband – I got this.
omg… I'll just get this guy to help: http://cjonline.com/news/2012-05-12/young-boy-stages-wbc-counter-protest
I am very pleased to see the people of Brandon, Mississippi standing against the Westboro protestors. I'm in full support of everything they did. I'm in full support of everything you've said on that topic. I am whole-heartedly opposed to what Fred Phelps and the Westboro congregation appear to stand for. However, can I please urge you to take care with regards to your comments about his political associations. I do not dispute the facts as you have presented them. However, calling Phelps a Democrat activist is a bit like calling Osama bin Laden a Muslim activist. A Democrat, he may claim to be. Just as bin Laden was a Muslim. However, neither is typical or representative of those groups. In a country where there is so much division, pointing the finger and saying this NUTJOB (and I stand behind that!) is representative of anyone other than his only deluded beliefs and followers is just stirring the pot.
Well said!!!
U go Sister!
Sometimes you don't half remind me of myself! X
Two peas in a pod! Always were! x