A quick-on-the-trigger GayPatriot reader got this shot of Rev. Fred Phelps (his website here) and his followers just finished picketing at the funeral of Chief Justice William Rehnquist in downtown Washington, DC.
They had set up camp between the offices of the Human Rights Campaign (at 17th & Rhode Island) and St. Matthews Cathedral where the funeral is taking place.
Our GP Correspondent reports:
They just packed up and left since the C-SPAN cameras were leaving, but they were there for a good two hours until the funeral got started. Not sure if you’ll be able to make out the second sign from the right, but it says “Thank God for Katrina.” Other signs not pictured included “Thank God for AIDS,” “Too late to pray,” and “God is America’s Terrorist.” That’s Phelps in the middle with the red, white and blue windbreaker and red cap.
They’re also dragging American flags all around on the ground and spitting on them.
What does all this hate actually accomplish? A lot of people in America need to ask themselves that question. There isn’t a lot of distance between the ignorant hatred expressed here, and those we see leveled against the American troops in harm’s way. Need I go on?
Oh yeah, Phelps is an avowed liberal Democrat.
In the 1980s, the Phelps family were strong political allies with then-senator Al Gore. The home of Fred Jr., Phelps’ eldest son, located in the Westboro compound, acted as Gore’s campaign quarters for one of his senate races, and the Westboro compound was host to a fundraiser. Numerous photos exist on the internet of Fred Phelps Jr. and his second wife, Betty Phelps-Schurle, posing with Al and Tipper Gore in Phelps Jr.’s home. Phelps also served as a Gore delegate on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta in 1988. (link with photos.)
Just to put hate in perspective.
-Bruce (GayPatriot)