Hate group plans to picket funerals
A controversial Kansas-based religious group says it plans to picket the funerals of the six people killed in Friday's accident.
Westboro Baptist Church issued a news release Tuesday afternoon saying that it plans to picket the funerals of four Scott High Cheerleaders, which are scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday (Ashley Mason), Thursday (Nikki Hughett) and Friday (Aleasha and Jamie Hill).
The church's pastor, Fred Phelps, preaches that God hates America for accepting homosexuality. Phelps and his church's followers frequently picket the funerals of American servicemen who are killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, holding signs and shouting slogans at attendees of the funeral. The group is protected by federal statutes that permit peaceful protests.
The church's actions are highly controversial, and are routinely condemned by the various denominations of Christianity. The church is often described as a "hate group."
In a press release faxed to media outlets Tuesday, the group stated, "God hates Tennessee . . . Beware of evil Tennessee and the curse of God. These six people died for Tennessee's sins. Worse is coming upon persecutors of God's servants."
Despite the news release, the church had not listed the funerals on a "picket schedule" on its website as of Wednesday morning. Efforts to contact the church failed. Several telephone numbers belonging to the church have been disconnected.
The Independent Herald contacted the office of several members of the Phelps family, who are practicing attorneys. However, they refused to talk about Westboro Baptist Church.
Click here to read the news release distributed by WBC.
