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Manchester Police on Alert For Westboro Baptist Church Protest Saturday

Manchester police tell 'Patch' they are aware of Westboro Baptist Church's plans to protest an appeals court ruling Saturday afternoon in Schroeder Park.

 

As previously reported by Patch, the planned protest follows an appeals court ruling this week in favor of the City of Manchester in regard to a lawsuit filed by Wesboro Baptist Church members challenging Manchester's funeral protest ordinance. The ordinance prohibits protests within 300 feet of a funeral one hour before and one hour after services.

(Read Previous Story: Appeals Court Rules Manchester Can Restrict Funeral Protests)

Westboro church members are known for their anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. soldiers, claiming the soldiers' deaths are a result of America's tolerance for homosexuality

Manchester Police Sergeant Gerard Johnson tells Patch that police were notified by Westboro members that they plan to protest the court ruling at Schroeder Park from 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Saturday.

"I'm guessing they're going to come, stand around with their signs, state their case and be on their way," Johnson tells Patch.

Johnson said there will be a police presence at the protest as a precaution to protect the rights of Westboro's church members as well as anybody else who attends.

"It's a public place and they have the same rights as any other person does to voice their opinions," Johnson explained. "We're certainly sensitive to that. The first amendment is near and dear to all of us and we want to make sure their rights are protected too." 

As previously reported by Patchmembers of the Westboro Baptist Church are also planning to picket the Maplewood Richmond Heights theater production of The Laramie Project, on Saturday.

Read Related Stories: 

Westboro Baptist Church Plans Manchester Protest Saturday

Appeals Court Rules Manchester Can Restrict Funeral Protests

Manchester Reacts to Court's Ruling in Westboro Funeral Protest Case

Related Topics: Funeral Protest, Lawsuit, Manchester Park, Phelps Roper, Schroeder Park, Soldier, St. Louis, and Westboro Baptist Church

thomas

9:23 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012

best bible thumpers in the land , go spank the heathen wbc.

Reply

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