Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests

GSXR600Chick · 02-21-2006, 09:58 PM

Wow. This is quite the story. Thought I would share it in case any of you didn't hear about it.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/21/fun....ap/index.html

Tuesday, February 21, 2006; Posted: 7:55 a.m. EST (12:55 GMT)

Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters.

They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.

Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.

The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.

"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."

At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters, who at a recent memorial service at Fort Campbell wrapped themselves in upside-down American flags. They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers.

The Patriot Guard was also there, waving up a ruckus of support for the families across the street. Community members came in the freezing rain to chant "U-S-A, U-S-A" alongside them.

"This is just the right thing to do. This is something America didn't do in the '70s," said Kurt Mayer, the group's national spokesman. "Whether we agree with why we're over there, these soldiers are dying to protect our freedoms."

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a daughter of Fred Phelps and an attorney for the Topeka, Kansas-based church, said neither state laws nor the Patriot Guard can silence their message that God killed the soldiers because they fought for a country that embraces homosexuals.

"The scriptures are crystal clear that when God sets out to punish a nation, it is with the sword. An IED is just a broken-up sword," Phelps-Roper said. "Since that is his weapon of choice, our forum of choice has got to be a dead soldier's funeral."

The church, Westboro Baptist Church, is not affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Fred Phelps' extended family members.

During the 1990s, church members were known mostly for picketing the funerals of AIDS victims, and they have long been tracked as a hate group by the Montgomery, Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project.

The project's deputy director, Heidi Beirich, said other groups have tried to counter Phelps' message, but none has been as organized as the Patriot Guard.

"I'm not sure anybody has gone to this length to stand in solidarity," she said. "It's nice that these veterans and their supporters are trying to do something. I can't imagine anything worse, your loved one is killed in Iraq and you've got to deal with Fred Phelps."

Kentucky, home to sprawling Fort Campbell along the Tennessee line, was among the first states to attempt to deal with Phelps legislatively. Its House and Senate have each passed bills that would limit people from protesting within 300 feet of a funeral or memorial service. The Senate version would also keep protesters from being within earshot of grieving friends and family members.

Richard Wilbur, a retired police detective, said his Indiana Patriot Guard group only comes to funerals if invited by family. He said he has no problem with protests against the war but sees no place for objectors at a family's final goodbye to a soldier.

"No one deserves this," he said.

corpse_grinder0 · 02-21-2006, 10:19 PM

Rev. Fred Phelps needs an IED shoved up his ass :wtf

Throttlepimp · 02-22-2006, 07:33 AM

Hell yeah I read this and thought it was awesome!

It's a punk ass move to go to someones funeral and talk ****.

Gwyneth · 02-22-2006, 10:17 AM

Reverend Phelps reminds me of another psycho, David Koresch. Where the f*#k does he and his extended family (I wonder if his daughter is the also his son's mother?) get off jeckling a fallen soldier at his or her funeral? Where are the morals? Oh, and isn't there a quote somewhere in the Bible that says something to the effect "Let he who has no sin cast the first stone." I'm sure Phelps and his family are not free from sin and in the end they too will be punished by God when Satan welcomes them to Hell. :wtf :asshat

S-EX636 · 02-22-2006, 10:56 AM

Truely a sad situation for the soliders and America. I will ride with the SoCal Patriot Guard anyday to give the families space for their grieving.... Support our troops, whatever the mission.

The Rev. and his cronies are distasteful, disrespectful, and a little louy if you ask me.

I am joining right now @ http://www.patriotguard.org :thumbup

Throttlepimp · 02-22-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S-EX636

I am joining right now @ http://www.patriotguard.org :thumbup

:thumbup

I'm in.

So when one of the Phelps' klan dies do we ride over to the sound of "Flight of the Valayrie"(Apocolpyse Now) and sing "God Bless America"!

jaim · 02-22-2006, 11:50 PM

It is sad that there has arisen a group that needs to go and defend the burial rights of gay soldiers. We live in a f'ed up country. Protesting soldiers' funerals is just f'ed up.

veteran newbie · 02-23-2006, 06:53 AM

If I was a member of that grieving family, I'd have something waiting for the likes of that protesting group. I'd probably go to jail for it but it would be well worth the effort.

Throttlepimp · 02-23-2006, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaim

It is sad that there has arisen a group that needs to go and defend the burial rights of gay soldiers. We live in a f'ed up country. Protesting soldiers' funerals is just f'ed up.

They are not protesting at gay soldiers funeral, they are protesting at all soldiers funerals. Phepls is saying the soldiers die at the hand of god because the government lets people have the freedom to be gay.

Phelps has the freedom to protest although in extremely bad taste and not very Christian like at all (though shalt not judge?).

I would show up for a soldiers funeral wether that soldier is gay or not in opposition to Phelps's group to show my support of the soldiers sacrifice to protect the American way of life.

jaim · 02-25-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Throttlepimp

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaim

It is sad that there has arisen a group that needs to go and defend the burial rights of gay soldiers. We live in a f'ed up country. Protesting soldiers' funerals is just f'ed up.

They are not protesting at gay soldiers funeral, they are protesting at all soldiers funerals. Phepls is saying the soldiers die at the hand of god because the government lets people have the freedom to be gay.

Phelps has the freedom to protest although in extremely bad taste and not very Christian like at all (though shalt not judge?).

I would show up for a soldiers funeral wether that soldier is gay or not in opposition to Phelps's group to show my support of the soldiers sacrifice to protect the American way of life.

That's makes it even more f'd up. And to think we are fighting religious fanaticism in other countries when we have a bunch of it right here.

02-21-2006, 09:58 PM	#1
GSXR600Chick Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Oceanside, CA Bikes: 2004 GSXR 600, 1996 CBR 600 Age: 1 Posts: 2,731 iTrader: (0) Rep Power: 7 (22)	Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests Wow. This is quite the story. Thought I would share it in case any of you didn't hear about it. http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/21/fun....ap/index.html Tuesday, February 21, 2006; Posted: 7:55 a.m. EST (12:55 GMT) Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters. They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals. Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq. The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags. "The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement." At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters, who at a recent memorial service at Fort Campbell wrapped themselves in upside-down American flags. They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers. The Patriot Guard was also there, waving up a ruckus of support for the families across the street. Community members came in the freezing rain to chant "U-S-A, U-S-A" alongside them. "This is just the right thing to do. This is something America didn't do in the '70s," said Kurt Mayer, the group's national spokesman. "Whether we agree with why we're over there, these soldiers are dying to protect our freedoms." Shirley Phelps-Roper, a daughter of Fred Phelps and an attorney for the Topeka, Kansas-based church, said neither state laws nor the Patriot Guard can silence their message that God killed the soldiers because they fought for a country that embraces homosexuals. "The scriptures are crystal clear that when God sets out to punish a nation, it is with the sword. An IED is just a broken-up sword," Phelps-Roper said. "Since that is his weapon of choice, our forum of choice has got to be a dead soldier's funeral." The church, Westboro Baptist Church, is not affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Fred Phelps' extended family members. During the 1990s, church members were known mostly for picketing the funerals of AIDS victims, and they have long been tracked as a hate group by the Montgomery, Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project. The project's deputy director, Heidi Beirich, said other groups have tried to counter Phelps' message, but none has been as organized as the Patriot Guard. "I'm not sure anybody has gone to this length to stand in solidarity," she said. "It's nice that these veterans and their supporters are trying to do something. I can't imagine anything worse, your loved one is killed in Iraq and you've got to deal with Fred Phelps." Kentucky, home to sprawling Fort Campbell along the Tennessee line, was among the first states to attempt to deal with Phelps legislatively. Its House and Senate have each passed bills that would limit people from protesting within 300 feet of a funeral or memorial service. The Senate version would also keep protesters from being within earshot of grieving friends and family members. Richard Wilbur, a retired police detective, said his Indiana Patriot Guard group only comes to funerals if invited by family. He said he has no problem with protests against the war but sees no place for objectors at a family's final goodbye to a soldier. "No one deserves this," he said. __________________ "There's so much time to learn how to ride, if you can think of it more as a life-time pursuit, you'll realize there's no big rush to get better/faster." ---Robert---- Check out the coolest videos here: www.grassyknollproductions.com And the best pictures here: www.palomarpics.net "Someone once said that friends are God's way of apologizing for family" --Havoc-- "The world is too fragile for people to be untrue. There's too much at stake, and life is too short for lies." --Brothers & Sisters--

02-21-2006, 10:19 PM	#2
corpse_grinder0 Squid Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 104 iTrader: (0) Rep Power: 3 (10)	Rev. Fred Phelps needs an IED shoved up his ass :wtf __________________ http://www.sportbikeswest.com/forum/...hh_1rr_173.jpg

02-22-2006, 07:33 AM	#3
Throttlepimp Track Junkie Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: South of the 78. Posts: 1,203 iTrader: (0) Rep Power: 5 (39)	Hell yeah I read this and thought it was awesome! It's a punk ass move to go to someones funeral and talk ****. __________________ An adreneal gland is a terrible thing to waste...

02-22-2006, 11:50 PM	#7
jaim Squid Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Land of Canyons Posts: 185 iTrader: (0) Rep Power: 5 (10)	It is sad that there has arisen a group that needs to go and defend the burial rights of gay soldiers. We live in a f'ed up country. Protesting soldiers' funerals is just f'ed up. __________________ Are you crazy? Is that your problem?

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02-22-2006, 10:17 AM	#4
Gwyneth Club Racer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North County San Diego Bikes: 05 Kawasaki ZZR600 Age: 35 Posts: 2,006 iTrader: (0) Rep Power: 6 (56)	Reverend Phelps reminds me of another psycho, David Koresch. Where the f*#k does he and his extended family (I wonder if his daughter is the also his son's mother?) get off jeckling a fallen soldier at his or her funeral? Where are the morals? Oh, and isn't there a quote somewhere in the Bible that says something to the effect "Let he who has no sin cast the first stone." I'm sure Phelps and his family are not free from sin and in the end they too will be punished by God when Satan welcomes them to Hell. :wtf :asshat

02-22-2006, 10:56 AM	#5
S-EX636 Know It All Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Just north of Randsburg Age: 30 Posts: 478 iTrader: (0) Rep Power: 4 (33)	Truely a sad situation for the soliders and America. I will ride with the SoCal Patriot Guard anyday to give the families space for their grieving.... Support our troops, whatever the mission. The Rev. and his cronies are distasteful, disrespectful, and a little louy if you ask me. I am joining right now @ http://www.patriotguard.org :thumbup

02-23-2006, 06:53 AM	#8
veteran newbie Newbie Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 65 iTrader: (0) Rep Power: 5 (10)	If I was a member of that grieving family, I'd have something waiting for the likes of that protesting group. I'd probably go to jail for it but it would be well worth the effort.