California May Pass Law Limiting Funeral Pickets

Yesterday's Contra Costa Times reports that California may join a number of other states in enacting legislation to ban protests near funerals or memorial services. AB 2707 was introduced largely in response to protests at veterans' funerals around the country led by Topeka, Kansas Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church. Phelps and his followers carry signs claiming that soldiers are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan because God is punishing the United States for being tolerant of gay and lesbian behavior. Attorney Shirley Phelps-Roper, one of Rev. Phelps' daughters argues California's bill is unconstitutional: "They may not remove us from sight or sound of our target audience. What (AB 2707) has done is targeted our religious message, and they are prohibiting the free exercise of our religion." Last week's Mail & Guardian discusses Phelps' activities. Phelps' website, "God Hates Fags" lists upcoming funerals at which he and his followers will be carrying picket signs.