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The wicked gets whacked!

$11 million verdict Wednesday against a fundamentalist Kansas church ....

Some of you may remember my blog post about when Hate came to my town of Hampstead New Hampshire and the impact that had on me and on my community.

To watch first hand as hate was directed to my community and it's people, in particular the family of one of our fallen war heroes captain Jonathan Grassbaugh was devastating.

I could not believe these people from a so called church in Kansas would come to my town and stand on my street corner carrying such hate filled signs and chanting such sick phrases. But they did. I couldn't believe they had the right to...but they did.

Along with them came something else...a man with a flag, a group of people known as the Patriot Guard Riders and a community and then an entire state becomes aware and reacts.

The bad guys from Kansas became small and so insignificant and our flag grew large as it swelled with pride.

Today the small guys from Kansas...lost a battle. Oh happy day the wicked gets whacked!

According to MSNBC a grieving father won a huge victory today! No doubt he'd rather have his son with him today than all the money in the world but I am so happy that he won this battle.

I hope he actually sees the money and I so hope this stops this hate filled wicked group from further protests at funerals!

MSNBC wrote today...

"BALTIMORE - A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict Wednesday against a fundamentalist Kansas church that pickets military funerals out of a belief that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

Albert Snyder of York, Pa., sued the Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.

The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress."

A small victory perhaps...but can you imagine if other families followed suit?

Monika McGillicuddy,REALTOR

Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County

Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training

http://monikamcgillicuddy.com/wordpress/

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH Real Estate

603-548-7728

Posted by Monika McGillicuddy~REALTOR®~ N.H. Real Estate Broker & Trainer on 10/31/2007 08:27 PM

Comments (38)

patriot guard riders, pgr, flag man, funeral protestors, hampstead nh, nh real estate blogs, hate, manchester union leader

This post has been included in New Hampshire Information Rockingham County, NH Information Hampstead, NH Information

38 Comments on The wicked gets whacked!

OCT

2007

Very interesting Moncia. Thanks for keeping us updated with this post. I read your initial post with great sadness...that was not a demonstration of the love of God in any way.

Lance Cpl Synder was in my husband's Battalion. My husband was there in Iraq when he died. I remember his death and he has been in my thoughts many days. I was very happy when I heard of this verdict.

I have been following this story also...I think it is SICK how a 'church' can spew such hate in the name of God. That is NOT what God would want and I trust that most people realize this.

Oh, Monika...I'm so happy they got that judgement against them. I see none of God's love in them...only hate and bigotry. I'm glad some judge saw the light. I think they're a disgrace to this nation.

I agree Lola...which is why I call it a s so called church...albeit they(the wicked people) would disagree with us. I'm thrilled they got spanked!

Moncia,

As a former Marine - I love seeing articles like this. All these men and women that are putting there lives in danger everyday for our freedoms deserve our highest respect.

Thanks for the good reminder.

Jo...It was just unreal to see these wicked people do their thing! I hope the family sees the money. I feel they may not!

Funny, I was just watching several of the videos posted on YouTube. These people from the Westboro Baptist Church need to be arrested in the worst possible way. I remember when the motorcycle guys were going to all the funerals to block the family members from seeing these sick people.

I am so glad the father got awarded the $11 million. I know he may never see a penny of it, but it at least brought to light that the members of that church are sick.

Great post!

Mary...I think most people know it's not god...at least I did that day. It was Hate...pure and simple.

Monika, Yes, I remember the post and seeing this group all over the news ! Thanks for the update. No matter how you feel about this damnable war your heart goes out to the grieving families.

Linda...It made my day reading this! Thank goodness for that judge!

Vincent... As a former Marine it must really tear you up reading about what these people do. Like you I loved reading this as well...I hope it shuts these creeps up!

Charles... Sad thing is they have a Right to do what they do...can you believe it?? And people died so they could have that right!

Bill...Absolutely...no matter how you feel about the war or politics...these wicked people are wrong and the grieving families they need us all to stand together.

Glad to hear this. Apparently they do "not" have the right to do this! Sick people!

I hope it stays that way Karen! They do not have the right to be in your face in NH...at least be 500 (I think) feet away. Not far enough in my opinion.

Monika, hate for any reason is wrong and intruding on the right of someone to peacefully bury a loved one is inexcusable.

Moni there are some sick people out there and this is truly awful. I see stories about one individual doing things like this and I hope in my mind that they are somehow mentally ill and that is why it's happening. But for a whole group of people to do it...I can't come up with anything that makes me less queasy about the situation. Totally disgusting. And I love your phrase when the wicked get whacked!

It is so nice when Courts render a judgment that makes sense......even though "we have a right" to do what that group did, doesn't make it morally right. Just pisses me off when any group acts holier than thou and uses their beliefs to put down others. I hope they have to pay the whole amount of money.......

Monika,

I remember having the hairs on my arms stand up as I swelled with pride reading your original reporting of the "man with a flag".

Certainly an interesting follow up with the court stepping in and handing down a judgment defending a families right to privacy as they mourn the loss of their son. I would think that 6 million in punitive is a little steep, Nonetheless it's a nice thought that that court understood the importance of a families right to privacy during that time of great loss.

The Court apparently saw through the actions of some very sick people who clutch a bible in their hands while they torment grieving families.

NOV

2007

Monika, that group did it here in Michigan during the 2nd year of the war. The headlines ripping that group were merciless. I'll never forget the look of pure anguish and anger on the face of the boys father. Some time after that (6 months?) Michigan passed a law banning protester groups like this one from being within so many feet of a funeral.

The common people went a bit further. I wish I could remember their name, but there is a group of motorcycle riders here who now attend every military funeral. The line the streets with their own messages - those of support - and drown out the words of the protesters who stand just behind the line that the law put in place. They make sure that the protesters voices are not heard by the grieving families.

It was gratifying to see a jury make this award. The "church" will probably never pay a dime, but at least we have some case law from this verdict.

This is one time the abuser wasn't able to hide behind the false protections of religious freedom and freedom of speech. These amendments to the Constitution were meant to protect not be used as weapons.

Hats off to that jury.

Not all of the religious crazies are in Islam. We've got a few here too.

Wonderful news. I heard one of the people on Fox last week, from an interview in 2006, you're right such hate. Hopefully this will stop them, terrible to hurt a grieving family like that. Thanks for the update, Monika

Hi Monika, I was wondering if you saw this. Did you see the "church's" reaction tho? They actually like the publicity this brought them, I knew they would, that is how sick they are. It was on Good Morning America this am. GMA thinks that the "church" is only worth 1Mill, so who knows if the father will see a dime, however, the father said it wasn't about the money... I know I understand what it was about.

Hi Monika - when I heard about this verdict, I thought about your posts, and the 'man with the flag".

They are a sick group, in my opinion, and when I saw the segment this morning on GMA that Lysa mentioned, it made me so angry to see them regaling in this notoriety they get. One lady from that church was so proud of what they do, it made you want to puke all over her. Disgusting, to say the least!

Good for that jury!
Ann

Monika,

I am glad to hear that this "church" has been handed a judgement from the courts. Unfortunately this small group of people that call themselves a "church" give a bad name to christian churches everywhere. This reflects the hate of a few but casts a big shadow on many.

I am happy that this family has received justice although I'm sure they would rather have their son back. Hopefully this victory will help them move on with their lives and give them a way to remember their son in a positive way. I tend to agree with most here that the money will probably never get to the family.

God bless our service men and women. they stand on the line for us each day so we can enjoy our freedoms.

Judy t

What great and just news...A big step forward!

I saw this this moring on GMA and was going to let you know- guess there is no need! That really was hate Monica. The sad part for me was that they proclaimed to be from a chuch and had "God" on their posters...they certainly don't portray the loving and kind God that I know! They will be judged someday...I guess the court judged them the way they could here on earth - but we know that their "real day in court" is yet to come!

I am so glad that the court saw the light! I hope the higher court does not reduce the punitive damage award! I hope this will give all law enforcement agencies the green light to prohibit these people from ever doing this type of thing again.

NOV

2007

Thank you to everyone who commented. I appreciate all your comments very much. This group of fanatics need to be stopped but I'm not sure this will do it. I bet they appeal on the 1st amendment right of free speech!

I've been away teaching for these last two days but will try and get back to you all.

Thanks

Monika- I have now put a link on my post, although we have the similarity of hate....this post is very specific....disugusting group, but specific......

Thanks Kathy!

NOV

2007

Monika- Did you see the 20/20 special last night on this? Unbelievable.....they are a family "clan" and showed the children spewing memorized hate......one child didn't even know what some of the words were, but his hate was evident. I say lock up those parents.......I am trying very very hard not to cuss on your post, but every bad word in my vocabulary wants to come out for this deranged Group!!!!!!

And what really ticks me off is that our Constitution allows this to be called a Church???? And they have the Unmitigated Gall to put down America.....where else in the world could they have legal freedom to collect money, buy fancy stuff, and spew hate like that with legal protections of being a Church?

Kathy....That woman who they interviewed on the show was the woman who verbally attacked me the day they were here in NH. She had the coldest eyes I've ever seen. Pure hatred is what I felt...which is why I named my original post about them "Hate".

I cried for those little kids last night... can you imagine being raised like that. How sad!

Monika-I have not read the original post, but will now....you mean to tell me you had an encounter with that "woman"????? She is crazy!!!!

I am so angry right now.....they took kids away from other parents like this, so why would the State allow her to raise children like that? Did you see that baby at the end....such a cutie, and to think she will be the next generation of madness.

kathy....My original Active Rain post about Hate read the comments....there are over 160 of them. Many many people e-mailed me from all over the world and I even had people bring me flowers after I wrote it. Incredible. Yes that woman was here and she enjoyed taunting me very much. I won't use her name but it was her.

I just read it, thanks....and the guy, Scott from Tennessee said it best...ignore them they hate to be ignored, and all of the attention these past few days have given them too much attention already. which of course doesn't change the fact these are some very disturbed people.

Kathy,

Read this and be sure to play the video.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/191491/Like-A-Rock-Patriot

This 'church' and it's activities are repulsive. They threatened to come to Virginia Tech after the tragedy in April and to my church for my pastor's funeral. I cannot understand why their activities are protected but thank God they got slapped down. Thanks for keeping us posted.

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