Justices Rule for Protesters at Military Funerals

[Ah Pook]

Free speech is one thing, harassment is another. If it was the Westboro Law Firm, there would be no question. Throw in the word church and everything changes.

Protesting at funerals (anyones funeral) is just reprehensible.

Some people here have mainstream musical tastes. My pick would be Ministry "Stigmata". Preferably the live version. Second would be John Zorn's "Sweat, Sperm + Blood".

In all seriousness, if the WBC was met with this kind of response more often, I doubt they would protest for long.

[Hayes]

Free speech is one thing, harassment is another.

I agree that it is harassment, but its a hard line to draw. Where do we draw the limit?

[FireMoth]

the answer is simple: Some ones constitutional right ro freedom of speech and freedom of assembly is being marginalized...

...because if the soldiers and their families and other friends of the fallen showed up outside of these assholes churches every Sunday to call them soul peddling fear mongering fuck tard ass holes at the top of their lungs, they would be charged with harassment and menacing, because its a fucking church.

So, there is freedom of speech. constitutionally protected for those with imaginary friends they all gather to play with.
I guess the souls of the fallen don't get that respect.

I am all in favor of free speech for EVERYONE. No just those who conduct themselves poorly.

Now, even as an atheist, i think its a clear cut case of religious persecution. Burial ceremonies are a SACRED RELIGIOUS RIGHT to ensure the passing of the soul into paradise.
The church freaks are using their religious beliefs to persecute some one else's, and they are not being held accountable for it.

I say we see how far they want to take this free speech thing. If they can scream at the families of the fallen that their sons and daughters were evil murderers, then i can sit on the steps of the church and scream that the people inside are all child molesting, baby raping cannibal perverts. Cause that's my constitutional right.

Some day some one will explain to me how we can simultaneously have freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion, as well as laws against libel, slander, harassment, and menacing.

That's like saying i have the freedom to walk where ever i want.. as long as i stay on the side walk, and obey all the crossing gourds....

[Bailey Guns]

Rights are not absolute. We know that. These people are infringing on the rights of grieving families. I still don't buy the free speech argument.

Alito's first few statements sum this up for me very succintly:

I

Respondents and other members of their church have
strong opinions on certain moral, religious, and political issues, and the First Amendment ensures that they have almost limitless opportunities to express their views. They may write and distribute books, articles, and other texts; they may create and disseminate video and audio recordings; they may circulate petitions; they may speak to individuals and groups in public forums and in any private venue that wishes to accommodate them; they may picket peacefully in countless locations; they may appear on television and speak on the radio; they may post messages on the Internet and send out e-mails. And they may express their views in terms that are “uninhibited,” “vehement,” and “caustic.” New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U. S. 254, 270 (1964).

It does not follow, however, that they may intentionally inflict severe emotional injury on private persons at a time of intense emotional sensitivity by launching vicious verbal attacks that make no contribution to public debate. To protect against such injury, “most if not all jurisdictions” permit recovery in tort for the intentional infliction of emotional distress (or IIED). Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell, 485 U. S. 46, 53 (1988).

[Bailey Guns]

BTW: The actual opinion can be found HERE. Alito's dissent begins on page 23. If you haven't read it, you should.

In my opinion his arguments (in dissent) are, as usual, well thought out, reasoned, easy to understand for the layman and hard to dispute.

[Hayes]

I say we see how far they want to take this free speech thing. If they can scream at the families of the fallen that their sons and daughters were evil murderers, then i can sit on the steps of the church and scream that the people inside are all child molesting, baby raping cannibal perverts. Cause that's my constitutional right.

I'll go with you.

[weirjf]

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I'd be shocked if that isn't already going on 24x7