Members of a small Missouri town banded together Saturday to block a controversial pastor and members of his Westboro Baptist Church from protesting the funeral of a fallen U.S. soldier, Fox4kc.com reports.

Hundreds of residents in Weston, Mo. -- as well as people as far away as California and Australia -- rallied in support of Sgt. First Class C.J. Sadell, who died from injuries suffered during a surprise attack in Afghanistan.

The residents sought to block Fred Phelps, leader of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., and his followers from picketing Sadell’s funeral, according to the station.

Phelps' church has been the subject of intense criticism for holding more than 44,000 pickets at funerals and other events – including the services of fallen service members.

Citing their First Amendment right to protest, Phelps' followers say they use funerals as an “available public platform” to “deliver the message that there is a consequence for sin.” Phelps is openly opposed to homosexuality and all government policies they he says supports homosexuals.

"We got everybody here early so we could take up all the parking spots," Rebecca Rooney of Weston, Mo., told Fox4kc.com. "We did that so Mr. Phelps wouldn't have a contingency that was really close."

"I'm glad they left, but I'm sad they came," she said.

Sadell, who leaves behind a wife and two sons, was stationed in the Arif Kala region of Afghanistan when his unit was ambushed on Oct. 5. Five soldiers were killed in the attack and Sadell was badly injured.

The 34-year-old died from his injuries on Oct. 24.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/07/residents-missouri-town-block-protesters-picketing-soldiers-funeral/?test=latestnews

These WBC members need to be deemed as a hate group and our government needs to go after them. I am sickk of these guys. The final straw is when they flew out and protested the memoriall for Brianna Dennnison who was kidnapped, brutally raped and murdered and left in a ditch.

Are they connected with Moveon?

it should be our 1st amendment right to kick the **** outa them...

Good for that town blocking the protest.

Well. if you have enough witnesses on your side, just claim self defense.

wow we almost agree on something? weird...

I don't think she is really feeling well tonight.

lol

Why would it be weird for people to agree about this?

Ah, so I'm supposed to agree with some hateful church? Uh huh.

no offense, but it wouldn't have surprised me...
liberals are liberals, after all...

you do know that this church is rather right wing dont you? Do you not get ashamed to be so ill informed at just about every post you make?

The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is an independent Baptist church known for its stance against homosexuality[1] and its protest activities, which include picketing funerals and desecrating the American flag.[2] The church is widely described as a hate group[3] and is monitored as such by the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center. It is headed by Fred Phelps and consists mostly of members of his large family;[4] in 2007, it had 71 members.[5] Located in a residential neighborhood on the west side of Topeka about three miles west of the Kansas State Capitol at 3701 West 12th Street, Topeka, Kansas, United States, its first public service was held on the afternoon of Sunday, November 27, 1955.[6]

The church has been actively involved in the anti gay movement since at least 1991 when it sought a crackdown on homosexual activity at Gage Park about a mile northwest of the church.[7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

You can't tell sarcasn??

Personal attacks are not necessary.

lol i don't care about that, i don't like them going to funerals and acting stupid... they can be anti gay all they want, just leave the soldiers alone....

Ummmmmm, Phelps and several of his family member have fun for political office as Democrats, so try again.

They don't just protest funerals.

Brianna Zunino Denison was a college student from Santa Barbara, California, who was abducted on January 20, 2008 from a friend's house in Reno, Nevada. Her body was discovered on February 15, 2008 in a field near a Reno business park after being raped and murdered by a serial rapist.

On February 23, 2008 a vigil for Denison was held in Reno and was attended by hundreds of people.

Denison was also targeted by the Westboro Baptist Church who protested at her memorial service on February 23, 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brianna_Denison#Aftermath

Just a little side note on why libs would defend moveon.

90% of their funding comes from unions.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/toppacs.php?Type=C&cycle=2010&Pty=D

One track ideology.

and 90% of topic for this thread.

As far as the town.

KUDOS to an entire town that used the Right of Free Speach and Assembly to conteract an Abuse of Free Speach and Assembly.

What exactly surprises you about this? Did you think I'd support people protesting at soldiers' funerals? Or support people who are complete homophobes? Really?

i just never know whats coming next from a liberal...but when you put it like that, it really doesn't make a lot of sense...