Editing Fred Phelps (section)

==Church protest activities==
{{Main|Westboro Baptist Church}}
[[File:Fred Phelps on his pulpit.jpg|thumb|Phelps at his [[pulpit]]]]

All of Phelps' demonstrations and other activities during the last 50 years of his life were conducted in conjunction with the congregation of [[Westboro Baptist Church]] (WBC), an American unaffiliated [[Baptist]] church known for its extreme ideologies, especially those [[Homophobia|against gay people]].<ref>{{cite web|title=God Hates Fags|url=http://www.godhatesfags.com/|publisher=Westboro Baptist Church|access-date=June 20, 2010}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/09/westboro-baptist-church-p_n_350766.html|title=Westboro Baptist Church Protests Outside Obama Girls' School|work=The Huffington Post|date=March 18, 2010|access-date=March 31, 2010|first=Rachel|last=Weiner|ref=none}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2009-02-26/columns/h8ters-l-a-vacation-fred-phelps-146-antigay-baptists-come-out-on-oscar-night/|title=H8ters L.A. Vacation: Fred Phelps' Antigay Baptists Come Out on Oscar Night|last=Mikulan|first=Steven|date=February 25, 2009|work=L.A. Weekly|access-date=May 31, 2009|ref=none|archive-date=August 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829195827/http://www.laweekly.com/2009-02-26/columns/h8ters-l-a-vacation-fred-phelps-146-antigay-baptists-come-out-on-oscar-night/}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=88362|title=Phelps Clan Met with Revelry and Frat Boys in Chicago|last=Melloy|first=Kilian|date=March 12, 2009|work=EDGE Boston|access-date=May 31, 2009|ref=none|archive-date=July 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710170644/http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=88362}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/School-plans-safe-show-554814.php|title=School Plans 'Safe' Show|first=Kenneth C. II|last=Crowe|location=Albany, NY|work=[[Times Union (Albany)|Times Union]]|date=November 14, 2009|access-date=July 1, 2011}}</ref> The church is widely described as a [[hate group]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Westboro Baptist Church |url=http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/WBC/default.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=3&item=WBC |publisher=[[Anti-Defamation League]] |access-date=June 20, 2010  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707223315/http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/WBC/default.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=3&item=WBC|archive-date=July 7, 2010 }}
* {{Cite news|title=Hate group protests this week|url=http://temple-news.com/2010/03/30/hate-group-protests-this-week|date=March 30, 2010|work=[[The Temple News]]|publisher=[[Temple University]]|location=Philadelphia|access-date=June 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406033316/http://temple-news.com/2010/03/30/hate-group-protests-this-week|archive-date=April 6, 2010}}
* {{cite news|title=Interview with Westboro Baptist Church: Hate in the Name of God|ref=none|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/293364 |date=June 16, 2010|first=W.V.|last=Fitzgerald|work=DigitalJournal.com|access-date=June 20, 2010 }}</ref> and is monitored as such by the [[Anti-Defamation League]] and [[Southern Poverty Law Center]]. It was headed by Phelps until his later years when he took a reduced role in the activities of the church and his family.<ref name="KCStar11212012"/> In March 2014, church representatives said that the church had not had a defined leader in "a very long time,"<ref name="tcj2014">{{cite news|url=http://cjonline.com/news/local/2014-03-16/wbc-founder-fred-waldron-phelps-sr-hospice-spokesman-confirms|title=Son of Fred Phelps Sr. says father voted out of church|newspaper=Topeka Capital-Journal|date=March 16, 2014|access-date=March 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117222314/http://cjonline.com/news/local/2014-03-16/wbc-founder-fred-waldron-phelps-sr-hospice-spokesman-confirms|archive-date=November 17, 2016}}</ref> and church members consist primarily of his large family;<ref name="phelps_dies_2014_03_20_wichita_eagle" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/05/05/hate.preacher/index.html|title={{-'}}Most-hated', anti-gay preacher once fought for civil rights|publisher=CNN|author=John Blake|date=March 14, 2010|access-date=May 20, 2010 }}</ref> in 2011, the church stated that it had about 40 members.<ref name=WBCBlog20111027>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.sparenot.com/workmen/2011/10/27/you-are-still-alive-now-is-the-time-to-repent|title=You Are Still Alive: NOW Is The Time To Repent|date=October 27, 2011|publisher=Westboro Baptist Church|access-date=November 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110104729/http://blogs.sparenot.com/workmen/2011/10/27/you-are-still-alive-now-is-the-time-to-repent|archive-date=January 10, 2012}}</ref> The church is headquartered in a residential neighborhood on the west side of [[Topeka]] about three miles (5&nbsp;km) west of the [[Kansas State Capitol]]. Its first [[Church service|public service]] was held on the afternoon of November 27, 1955.<ref name="date-sermon">{{cite web|url=http://www.godhatesamerica.com/sound/ghfsermons/OSBH19880131.mp3|title=Sermon preached by Fred Phelps|year=1987|access-date=January 14, 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208014706/http://www.godhatesamerica.com/sound/ghfsermons/OSBH19880131.mp3|archive-date=December 8, 2006}}</ref>

The church has been involved in actions against [[homosexuality|gay people]] since at least 1991, when it sought a crackdown on homosexual activity at [[Gage Park, Topeka|Gage Park]] six blocks northwest of the church.<ref name="phelps_dies_2014_03_20_wichita_eagle" /><ref>Jones, K. Ryan (2008), ''Fall from Grace'' (documentary)</ref> In 2001, Phelps estimated that the WBC had held 40 pickets a week for the previous 10 years.<ref>{{citation|year=2001|title=Topeka: A City Bulled into Submission by the Westboro Baptist Church|journal=Intelligence Report|publisher=[[Southern Poverty Law Center]]|issue=101|url=http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2001/spring/a-city-held-hostage}}</ref> In addition to conducting [[Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric|anti-gay]] protests at military funerals, the organization pickets other celebrity funerals and public events that are likely to gain media attention.<ref name="phelps_dies_2014_03_20_wichita_eagle" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Wing|first=Nick|title=Elizabeth Edwards Funeral To Be Picketed By Westboro Baptist Church|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/09/elizabeth-edwards-funeral-westboro-baptist-church_n_794333.html|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=December 9, 2010}}</ref> Protests have also been held against [[Jews]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sulzberger|first1=A. G.|last2=Moynihan|first2=Colin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/nyregion/22westboro.html|title=Messages of Hate Met by Scorn and Shrugs|work=The New York Times|date=June 21, 2009|access-date=May 20, 2020}}</ref> and some protests have included WBC members [[Flag desecration#United States|stomping]] on the [[flag of the United States|American flag]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Protester arrested for letting son stomp flag|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19080064|access-date=2021-06-27|website=NBC News|date=June 7, 2007 |language=en}}</ref>

===Lawsuit against Westboro Baptist Church===
{{main|Snyder v. Phelps}}
On March 10, 2006, WBC picketed the funeral of [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] [[Lance Corporal]] Matthew A. Snyder, who died in combat in [[Iraq]] on March 3, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-funeral-protests9-2010mar09,0,4930374.story|title=Supreme Court to Hear Case on Protests|last=Savage|first=David|date=March 9, 2010|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref><ref name="phelps_dies_2014_03_20_wichita_eagle" /> The Snyder family sued Fred Phelps for [[defamation]], [[invasion of privacy]], and [[intentional infliction of emotional distress]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8673839.stm| title=Supreme Court: Kagan's philosophy hard to define|last=Connolly|first=Katie|date=May 10, 2010|work=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref><ref name="phelps_dies_2014_03_20_wichita_eagle" />

On October 31, 2007, WBC, Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Davis, were found liable for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A federal jury awarded Snyder's father $2.9 million in compensatory damages, then later added a decision to award $6 million in [[punitive damages]] for invasion of privacy and an additional $2 million for causing emotional distress (a total of $10.9 million).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2007-10-31-3928600499_x.htm|title=Jury awards father $11M in funeral case|date=November 1, 2007|work=[[USA Today]]|agency =The Associated Press|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref><ref name="phelps_dies_2014_03_20_wichita_eagle" />

The lawsuit named Albert Snyder, father of Matthew Snyder, as the plaintiff, and Fred W. Phelps Sr., Westboro Baptist Church, Inc., Rebekah Phelps-Davis, and Shirley Phelps-Roper as defendants, alleging that they were responsible for publishing defamatory information about the Snyder family on the Internet, including statements that Albert and his wife had "raised [Matthew] for [[the devil]]" and taught him "to defy his Creator, to divorce, and to commit [[adultery]]". Other statements denounced them for raising their son Catholic. Snyder further complained the defendants had intruded upon and staged protests at his son's funeral. The claims of invasion of privacy and defamation arising from comments posted about Snyder on the Westboro website were dismissed on [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] grounds, but the case proceeded to trial on the remaining three counts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SNYDER v. PHELPS - 533 F.Supp.2d 567 (2008) - p2d56711043 - Leagle.com|url=https://www.leagle.com/decision/20081100533fsupp2d56711043|access-date=2021-06-27|website=Leagle|language=en}}</ref>

Albert Snyder, the father of LCpl Matthew A. Snyder, testified:

{{blockquote|They turned this funeral into a media circus and they wanted to hurt my family. They wanted their message heard and they didn't care who they stepped over. My son should have been buried with dignity, not with a bunch of clowns outside.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.newsline.umd.edu/justice/westboro-supreme-court-030211.htm|title=Supreme Court Upholds Anti-Gay Church's Protest Rights in Md. Case|last=Marso|first=Andy|date=March 2, 2011|work=Maryland Newsline|access-date=December 22, 2012}}</ref>}}

In his instructions to the jury, U.S. District Judge [[Richard D. Bennett]] stated that the First Amendment protection of free speech has limits, including vulgar, offensive and shocking statements, and that the jury must decide "whether the defendant's actions would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, whether they were extreme and outrageous and whether these actions were so offensive and shocking as to not be entitled to First Amendment protection". (see also ''[[Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire]]'', a case in which certain personal slurs and obscene utterances by an individual were found unworthy of First Amendment protection, due to the potential for violence resulting from their utterance). WBC sought a [[mistrial (law)|mistrial]] based on alleged prejudicial statements made by the judge and violations of the [[gag order]] by the plaintiff's attorney. An appeal was also sought by the WBC. On February 4, 2008, Bennett upheld the ruling but reduced the punitive damages from $8 million to $2.1 million. The total judgment then stood at $5 million. Court [[lien]]s were ordered on church buildings and Phelps' law office in an attempt to ensure that the damages were paid.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2004164853_apfuneralprotests05.html|title=Damages Reduced in Funeral Protest Case|date=February 5, 2008|work=The Seattle Times|agency=The Associated Press|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref>

An appeal by WBC was heard on September 24, 2009. The [[federal appeals court]] ruled in favor of Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church, stating that their picket near the funeral of LCpl Matthew A. Snyder is protected speech and did not violate the privacy of the service member's family, reversing the lower court's $5 million judgment. On March 30, 2010, the federal appeals court ordered Albert Snyder to pay the [[court costs]] for the Westboro Baptist Church, an amount totaling $16,510.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/29/father-of-dead-marine-ord_n_517614.html|title=Father of Dead Marine Ordered To Pay Legal Fees of Westboro Baptist Church Protesters|date=May 29, 2010|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|agency=The Associated Press|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> [[Pundit (expert)|Political commentator]] [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]] agreed on March 30 to cover the costs, pending appeal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/04/marine_scotus_040510w|title=Snyder-Phelps Fight has Many Twists, Turns|last=Lamothe|first=Dan|date=April 5, 2010|work=Marine Corps Times|access-date=December 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324031812/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/04/marine_scotus_040510w|archive-date=March 24, 2013}}</ref>

A [[writ of certiorari]] was granted on an appeal to the [[Supreme Court of the United States]], and the oral argument for the case took place on October 6, 2010. Margie Phelps, one of Fred Phelps' children, represented the Westboro Baptist Church.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39531700|title=Court Hears 'Thank God for Dead Soldiers' Case|date=October 6, 2010|work=[[MSN]]|agency=The Associated Press|access-date=December 11, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919215544/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39531700/ns/politics/|archive-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref>

The Court ruled in favor of Phelps in an 8–1 decision, holding that the protesters' speech related to a public issue, and was disseminated on a public sidewalk. Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] wrote, for the majority, "As a nation we have chosen ... to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate." Justice [[Samuel Alito]], the lone dissenter, wrote, "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case."<ref name="snyder_v_phelps_us_supreme_court_ruling">{{citation|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-751.pdf|title=Snyder v. Phelps et al.|last=Supreme Court of the United States|date=March 2, 2011|access-date=December 12, 2012}}</ref>

===Efforts to discourage funeral protests===
On May 24, 2006, the United States House and Senate passed the [[Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act]], which President [[George W. Bush]] signed five days later. The act bans protests within {{convert|300|ft|m}} of [[national cemetery|national cemeteries]]&nbsp;– which numbered 122 when the bill was signed&nbsp;– from an hour before a funeral to an hour after it. Violators face up to a $100,000 fine and up to a year in prison.<ref name="abrams2006">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052500431.html|title=Congress Bars Military Funeral Protesters|last=Abrams|first=Jim|date=May 25, 2006|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref><ref name="phelps_dies_2014_03_20_wichita_eagle" />

On August 6, 2012, [[Barack Obama|President Obama]] signed {{USPL|112|154}}, the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 which, among other things, requires a {{convert|300|ft|m|adj=on}} and 2-hour buffer zone around military funerals.<ref name="HP 20120806"/>

{{As of|2006|04}}, nine states had passed laws regarding protests near funeral sites immediately before and after ceremonies:
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Illinois]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Gov. Blagojevich Signs "Let Them Rest in Peace Act" Allowing Families to Peacefully Grieve Fallen Soldiers|date=May 17, 2006|url= http://www3.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=1&RecNum=4891|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Indiana]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/ind-enacts-funeral-protest-law|title=Ind. Enacts Funeral-Protest Law|agency=The Associated Press|date=March 3, 2006|work=First Amendment Center|access-date=December 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330214816/http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/ind-enacts-funeral-protest-law|archive-date=March 30, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Iowa]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16779|title=Iowa Governor Signs Bill Restricting Funeral Protests|agency=The Associated Press|date=April 18, 2006|work=First Amendment Center|access-date=December 11, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414173231/http://archive.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16779|archive-date=April 14, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Kansas]]<!--<ref>http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/14090898.htm {{Bare URL inline|date=July 2024}}{{Dead link|date=May 2010}}</ref>-->
* [[Kentucky]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16699|title=Ky. Enacts Limits for Funeral Protests|agency=The Associated press|date=March 28, 2006|work=First Amendment Center|access-date=December 11, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414180235/http://archive.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16699|archive-date=April 14, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Louisiana]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl041806jbfunerals.4b3d754c.html|title= Senate Committee Approves Bill to Limit Funeral Protests|last=Deslatte|first=Melinda|date=April 18, 2006|work=WWLTV|agency=The Associated Press|access-date=December 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107212142/http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl041806jbfunerals.4b3d754c.html|archive-date=January 7, 2009}}</ref>
* [[Maryland]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_082070525.html|title=Funeral Protest Ban Clears Maryland House|agency=The Associated Press|date=March 23, 2006|work=WJZ|access-date=December 11, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071223004335/http://wjz.com/topstories/funeral.protest.Annapolis.2.421340.html|archive-date=December 23, 2007}}</ref>
* [[Michigan]]<!--<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?s=8945|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071012030705/http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?s=8945|title=WLNS TV 6 Lansing Jackson Michigan News and Weather - WLNS.COM - Our ...|date=October 12, 2007|archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref>-->
* [[Missouri]]<!--<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/7597398/detail.html |title=Blunt Signs Funeral Protest Bill – Kansas City News Story – KMBC Kansas City |publisher=Thekansascitychannel.com |date=March 1, 2006 |access-date=July 9, 2010  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013223252/http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/7597398/detail.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007 }}</ref>-->
{{div col end}}

States that are considering laws are:
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Nebraska]]
* [[Ohio]]
* [[Oklahoma]]<!--<ref>[http://okinsider.com/topic_01OF0MMAHW/readstory.oki?storyid=0QX0W1CXY OkInsider.com – Selected News Story] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928161635/http://okinsider.com/topic_01OF0MMAHW/readstory.oki?storyid=0QX0W1CXY |date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref>-->
* [[South Carolina]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2005–2006 Bill 4965: Funeral Services|author=South Carolina General Assembly|date=May 21, 2006|url=http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess116_2005-2006/bills/4965.htm|access-date=December 22, 2012}}</ref>
* [[South Dakota]]
* [[Texas]]
* [[Vermont]]
* [[Virginia]]
* [[West Virginia]]
* [[Wisconsin]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=20530&sec=36&con=4|title=Wisconsin Enacts Ban on Protests at Funerals|agency=The Associated Press|date=February 21, 2006|work=Worldwide Religious News|access-date=December 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221141304/http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=20530&sec=36&con=4|archive-date=February 21, 2008}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

Florida increased the penalty for disturbing military funerals, amending a previous ban on the disruption of lawful assembly.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=33923|title=HB 7127 – Disturbance of Assemblies|date=June 20, 2006|access-date=December 12, 2012}}</ref>

On January 11, 2011, Arizona passed an emergency measure which prohibits protests within {{convert|300|ft|m}} of any funeral services, in response to an announcement by the WBC that it planned to protest at [[2011 Tucson shooting]] victim Christina Green's funeral.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-funeral-protest-20110112,0,7494257.story|title=Tucson Rallies to Protect Girl's Family from Protesters|last1=Mehta|first1=Seema|last2=Santa|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=December 12, 2012|first2=Nicole|date=January 11, 2011}}</ref>

These bans have been contested. Bart McQueary, having protested with Phelps on at least three occasions,<ref name="american2007">{{cite web|url=http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/352/149/|title=McQueary v. Stumbo|last=American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky|date=June 7, 2007|work=Freedom of Speech & Assembly|access-date=December 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425022636/http://aclu-ky.org/content/view/352/149/|archive-date=April 25, 2010}}</ref> filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of Kentucky's funeral protest ban. On September 26, 2006, a district court agreed and entered an injunction prohibiting the ban from being enforced.<ref name="american2007"/> In the opinion, the judge wrote:

{{blockquote|Sections 5(1)(b) and (c) restrict substantially more speech than that which would interfere with a funeral or that which would be so obtrusive that funeral participants could not avoid it. Accordingly, the provisions are not narrowly tailored to serve a significant government interest but are instead unconstitutionally overbroad.<ref>{{Citation|title=McQueary v. Stumbo|date=September 26, 2006|url=https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar_case?case=17977822682763826148&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr|volume=453|page=975|access-date=2021-06-27}}</ref>}}

The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] filed a lawsuit in [[Missouri]] on behalf of Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church to overturn the ban on the picketing of soldier's funerals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/22/AR2006072200643.html|title=ACLU Sues for Anti-Gay Group That Pickets at Troops' Burials|last=Burke|first=Garance|agency=The Associated Press|date=July 23, 2006|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=December 12, 2012}}</ref> The ACLU of Ohio also filed a similar lawsuit.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

In the case of ''[[Snyder v. Phelps]]'', the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that "distasteful and repugnant" protests surrounding funerals of service members were protected by the First Amendment. But attorneys for the service member's family appealed the decision on the grounds that such speech should not be allowed to inflict emotional distress on private parties exercising their freedom of religion during a funeral service. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case on October 6, 2010, and ruled 8–1 in favor of Phelps in an opinion released on March 2, 2011.<ref name="snyder_v_phelps_us_supreme_court_ruling" /><ref name="phelps_dies_2014_03_20_wichita_eagle" /> The court held that "any distress occasioned by Westboro's picketing turned on the content and viewpoint of the message conveyed, rather than any interference with the funeral itself" and thus could not be restricted.<ref name="snyder_v_phelps_us_supreme_court_ruling" /><ref name="upholds_2011_03_02_metro_weekly">{{cite web|url=http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/03/supreme-court-upholds-westboro.html|title=Supreme Court Upholds Westboro Baptist Church Members' Right to Picket Funerals|last=Geidner|first=Chris|date=March 2, 2011|work=Metro Weekly|access-date=December 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208053429/http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/03/supreme-court-upholds-westboro.html|archive-date=February 8, 2013}}</ref><ref name="right_upheld_2011_03_02_cnn">{{Cite news | last = Mears | first = Bill | title = Anti-gay church's right to protest at military funerals is upheld | work = CNN.com | date = March 2, 2011 | url = http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/02/scotus.westboro.church/index.html?iref=allsearch | access-date = May 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name="why_2011_03_03_time_com">{{Cite news | last = Gregory | first = Sean | title = Why the Supreme Court Ruled for Westboro | newspaper = Time Magazine | date = March 3, 2011 | url = http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2056613,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110304231118/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2056613,00.html  | archive-date = March 4, 2011 | access-date = August 28, 2013}}</ref>

===People targeted by Phelps===
[[File:Fred Phelps at Capitol.jpg|thumb|Phelps picketing outside the [[Kansas State Capitol]]]]
Beginning in the early 1990s, Phelps targeted numerous individuals and groups in the public eye for criticism by the Westboro Baptist Church.

Prominent examples include President [[Ronald Reagan]], [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess Diana]], Supreme Court Chief Justice [[William Rehnquist]], National Football League star [[Reggie White]], [[Sonny Bono]], comedian [[George Carlin]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], [[atheists]], Muslims, murdered college student [[Matthew Shepard]], children's television host [[Mister Rogers|Fred Rogers]], American televangelist [[Tammy Faye Bakker]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Tammy Faye memorial targeted by bigot Rev. Phelps|url=https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/16184694.html|access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref> Australian actor [[Heath Ledger]], [[Comedy Central]]'s [[Jon Stewart]] and [[Stephen Colbert]], political commentator [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]], filmmaker [[Richard Rossi]], film critic [[Roger Ebert]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Child|first=Ben|title=Roger Ebert's funeral targeted by Westboro Baptist church|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/apr/08/roger-ebert-funeral-westboro-baptist-church|access-date=March 17, 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=April 8, 2013}}</ref> Catholics, Australians,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.godhatestheworld.com/australia/index.html|title=God Hates Australia|access-date=December 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116194805/http://www.godhatestheworld.com/australia/index.html|archive-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref> Swedes, the Irish, and US soldiers killed in [[Iraq]]. He also targeted the [[Joseph Estabrook Elementary School]] in [[Lexington, Massachusetts]], center of the David Parker controversy.

Phelps also picketed memorials to victims of different mass shootings, including the [[Misinformation|spreading of unfounded theories]], such as saying that [[Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold]], the perpetrators of the 1999 [[Columbine High School massacre]], were gay, saying that "Two filthy fags slaughtered 13 people at Columbine High."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cullen |first1=Dave |author1-link=Dave Cullen|title=Gay leaders fear Littleton backlash |url=https://www.salon.com/1999/04/27/gay/ |access-date=20 January 2022 |work=[[Salon.com]] |date=27 April 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Watson |first1=J. |title=The Martyrs of Columbine: Faith and the Politics of Tragedy |date=2003 |publisher=[[Springer Publishing]] |location=[[New York City]] |isbn=978-1-4039-7000-8 |page=90}}</ref>

In 2006, in the aftermath of the [[West Nickel Mines School shooting]], where five [[Amish]] girls were murdered, Phelps mocked the shooting, saying that it had been caused by Pennsylvania Governor [[Ed Rendell]]'s criticism of Westboro.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jerryson |first1=Michael |title=Religious Violence Today: Faith and Conflict in the Modern World [2 volumes] |date=2020 |publisher=[[ABC-Clio]] |location=[[Santa Barbara, California]] |isbn=978-1-4408-5991-5 |page=237}}</ref> Phelps further planned a protest at the funeral for the five girls murdered, but called it off, opting to spread their messages on a local radio station instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/anti-gay-kansas-church-cancels-protests-at-funerals-for-slain-amish-girls|title=Anti-Gay Kansas Church Cancels Protests at Funerals for Slain Amish Girls|last=Bonisteel|first=Sara|date=October 4, 2006|work=[[Fox News Channel]]|access-date=December 11, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122053846/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,217760,00.html|archive-date=January 22, 2013}}</ref>

Phelps continued picketing funerals and memorials for victims of mass shootings during the late 2000s, including the plan to picket the memorial for two victims of the [[Northern Illinois University shooting]] in 2008, which was countered by a preacher who hosted a seminar against Phelps' views.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anti-gay group to protest NIU funerals |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/02/18/Anti-gay-group-to-protest-NIU-funerals/23831203356044/ |work=[[United Press International]] |date=18 February 2008}}</ref> After Phelps announced plans, as aforementioned, to picket the funeral of the youngest victim of the [[2011 Tucson shooting]] on Congresswoman [[Gabby Giffords]], Phelps responded to the emergency legislation which banned him from doing so, by praising the shooter, [[Jared Lee Loughner]], saying: "Thank God for the violent shooter", and labeled Loughner as a "hero".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/11/christina-taylor-green-funeral-westboro-baptist-church|title=Religious extremists banned from picketing Arizona shooting funeral
|last=McGreal|first=Chris|date=January 11, 2011|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> In 2007, he stated that he would target [[Jerry Falwell]]'s funeral.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/anti-gay-kansas-church-members-plan-to-picket-falwell-funeral/|title=Anti-Gay Kansas Church Members Plan to Picket Falwell Funeral|last=Bonisteel|first=Sara|date=May 17, 2007|work=[[Fox News Channel]]|access-date=March 12, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213205835/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/05/17/anti-gay-kansas-church-members-plan-to-picket-falwell-funeral/|archive-date=February 13, 2015}}</ref>

Phelps' daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, has appeared on [[Fox News Channel]], defending the WBC and attacking homosexuality. She and her children have also appeared on the [[Howard Stern]] radio show attempting to promote their agenda and church. Phelps' followers have repeatedly protested the [[University of Kansas School of Law]]'s graduation ceremonies.

In August 2007, in the wake of the [[Minneapolis]] [[I-35W bridge collapse]], Phelps and his congregation stated that they would protest at the funerals of the victims. In a statement, the church said that Minneapolis is the "land of the Sodomite damned".<ref>Black, Eric [http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2184 "Fred Phelps is Coming"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927033032/http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2184|date=September 27, 2007}}, ''Minnesota Monitor'', August 7, 2007.</ref>