Free speech still comes first
Albert Snyder lost his lawsuit when the Supreme Court ruled that the Westboro Baptist Church can demonstrate in public despite anti-gay and other statements that others have found offensive. Credit: AP
The most repugnant and the most hateful speech is what always tests the strength of this nation's core values. Yet, our constitutional protections remain strong.
The right to speak freely in a public forum on matters of public importance won over the fear of words yesterday. In an 8-1 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of a fringe church group to picket military funerals to get media attention for its offensive message. The small band of protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., usually holds posters claiming that soldiers die because God is punishing the nation for its tolerance of homosexuality.
The Maryland case involved the 2006 funeral of Matthew Snyder, a Marine killed in Iraq. The Westboro demonstrators held up signs that said, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" and "You're Going to Hell." Snyder's father sued for emotional harm and won $11 million.
The opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts said the First Amendment protected the protest because it was commentary on war and morality, issues that were critical to our national discourse. He noted the protesters were peaceful and followed police instructions to stay 1,000 feet from the church.
The protest caused even more hurt for members of the Snyder family, yet they may find some solace knowing the nation upholds the values for which their son died.
