Hate speech litigation, religious, political protest

A church is liable for 10.9 million dollars for hate speech. The verdict will be appealed.

“God hates fags”

A jury on Wednesday ordered an anti-gay Kansas church to pay $10.9 million in damages to relatives of a U.S. Marine who died in Iraq after church members cheered his death at his funeral. Church members said Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder’s death was God’s punishment of America for tolerating homosexuality, and they attended his 2006 funeral in Maryland with signs saying “You’re going to hell” and “God hates you.”

This is strange, 10 million bucks for hate speech by a “church”? I think a penalty is necessary, but that’s a lot of money. I guess it does send a strong message that this kind of speech is not acceptable or appropriate in the 21st century. I’m sure there are anti-Gay people out there who would gladly argue on behalf of the church, but I’m not that person.

Thank God for dead soldiers?

Shame on these fools, what the heck is wrong with them? Even worse, using children, manipulating them and brainwashing them into hateful and intolerant Americans. I don’t know how they sleep at night.

Daughter and co-defendant, Shirley Phelps-Roper, vowed to continue protesting military funerals and called the court’s decision a blow against free speech. Outside court on Wednesday, Phelps and his children waved placards with slogans such as “Pray for more dead kids” and “God hates fag enablers,” while passing drivers and pedestrians shouted abuse at them.

The compensatory damages alone were three times higher than the net worth of the church group ($2.9 million). Lawyers urged the jury not to award punitive damages because it would destroy the church. I guess the jurors thought that this organization was worth destroying since it offers nothing positive to the American community, besides hate. I’m of the opinion that these “God” loving Christians are terrorists just like the “Islamic Fascists” we’re fighting overseas. The only difference, is these terrorists hide behind a Christian God, while the others hide behind the Islamic one.

Regardless of the nasty words used, the fact that this protest occurred in a public place may weight against the State on an appeal, it may not even be a close one.

Fred Soto is an Attorney and Entrepreneur from the Silicon Valley.
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