Westboro Tweets Picket of Easley Soldier's Funeral
Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokesperson for Westboro Baptist Church and the daughter of the church's leader Fred Phelps, posted picket information Friday afternoon for the funeral of Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford “Brad” Thomas of Easley.
While the picket of an Upstate soldier's funeral doesn't appear on a nationally-recognized hate group's schedule, plans to do so were announced via Twitter by a leader of the group.
Around 12:50 p.m. Friday, Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokesperson for Westboro Baptist Church and the daughter of the church's leader Fred Phelps, tweeted the following: "Westboro Funeral Pkt-ArmySgt.1st Class Matthew B.Thomas 7/1 @ 2:30 PM Rock Springs Baptist, Easley,SC."
Patch reported on Thursday evening that the Topeka, Kansas-based hate group, known for celebrating the deaths of American soldiers, had posted releases on its website detailing plans to "preach" at a "lawful proxmitiy" outside the funerals of 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl and Spc. John D. Meador II, both of Lexington. On Friday, a release with details regarding Thomas' funeral was also posted.
Thomas, Rawl and Meador were killed June 20 when a suicide bomber attacked their patrol in Afghanistan. Five other South Carolina guardsmen were also injured in the blast.
The Easley Chamber of Commerce in an email blast on Friday asked local businesses to consider posting a message to honor Thomas on business signs or marquees and to lower American flags to half staff Sunday.
This won't be the first time the controversial church has threatened to protest a funeral for a South Carolina soldier.
In January, the group threatened to protest the funeral of Upstate soldier PFC. Justin M. Whitmire.
Read the full obituaries for Thomas, Rawl and Meador.
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Patrick Goodwin
2:55 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
these people wouldn't have the right for freedom of speech if it were not for these soliders defending us .I wonder if one of their family members was killed in action if they would picket them! My son is in the military and God forbid something ever happen to him and they showed up to protest at my sons funeral,They would certainly deal with not just me ,but the entire family and friends! You should be ashamed of yourselfs ! You want to protest? Go to the White House and talk to the commander in chief !
Gary Johnson
7:04 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
You can not have hate and contempt in your heart for any one period and say you are Christain. These wbc peaple are the reason most peaple dont want anything to do with God or the church. Gary Johnson
Tiffany
1:34 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
You are right Gary.. I went to their website and for a minute I thought Iwas going to hell! I know for sure however that I'm saved and redeemed by the blood of Jesus! I realize that I may be the only "Bible" some people read...
Elisha YATES
10:16 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
I agree w Gary.....wish I could b there for Jana n Brads family to help stop this. My thoughts n prayers r w them. They've already been through so much, God will deal w these people in his own way n time.
ROY
11:05 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012
how twisted, they need to get a life!