Thursday, December 29, 2011
Patch takes a look at five items that made news throughout St. Charles County in 2011.
1. Protesting funeral protests For St. Charles County, 2011 started with shouts of “USA” and choruses of “God Bless America” as a flag and sign-wielding St. Charles County and St. Louis area residents countered a demonstration by four Westboro Baptist Church members. The Topeka, KS-based church members were protesting outside the St. Charles County administrative building and the St. Charles City Hall. The protest was a response to a St. Charles County ordinance prohibiting picketing within 300 feet of funeral services one hour before and one hour after the ceremony. "Ten years ago, we didn't need a law like this because everyone respected people's right to mourn their deceased relatives," said County Executive Steve Ehlmann, at the time…
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Supreme Court votes 8-1 in favor of Westboro Baptist Church in lawsuit brought by Marine's father.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling will not alter St. Charles County’s defense of its law restricting protests at funerals, said a St. Charles County official. In fact, the decision handed down Wednesday may bolster the county’s case, said Assistant County Counselor Robert Hoeynck. The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in favor of Westboro Baptist Church, upholding a lower court decision that shields Westboro Baptist Church from liability for its protests. Albert Snyder, the father of Matthew Snyder, a Marine killed in Iraq, sued the church after members picketed his son’s funeral for intentionally inflicting emotional distress. A lower court had awarded Snyder $5 million. The St. Charles County ordinance being challenged by Westboro Baptist Church …
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
U.S. District Judge Audrey Fleissig asks questions on content of protest, barriers.
- GOVERNMENT
- Joe Scott
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011
St. Charles County and ACLU attorneys presented arguments Tuesday in federal district court in St. Louis regarding an ordinance restricting picketing during funeral ceremonies in unincorporated St. Charles County. Arguments focused on whether the St. Charles County ordinance targets negative messages and whether or not the distance and time restrictions are too burdensome. The ordinance prohibits picketing within 300 feet of a funeral ceremony for one hour before through one hour after the service. The city of St. Charles adopted an identical ordinance Tuesday night. Westboro Baptist Church members Shirley and Megan Phelps-Roper brought the federal lawsuit against St. Charles County after the county council adopted the funeral ban …
St. Paul soul
10:29 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The entire issue can be summed up by the weeping mother at the WBC protest at the Saint Charles County courthouse. Her sign showed a proud young Marine in his dress blues. Beneath the photo in her handwriting the following was written: "You hide behind your rights while my son died defending them" and then the date and place her son gave his all for his country. God bless that mother, God bless … more ›