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FRED PHELPS, THE founder of the controversial American church group which became notorious for protesting at military funerals and high-profile events, has died at the age of 84.
Phelps was the head of the Westboro Baptist Church, a Kansas church made up mainly of his large extended family. He had been ill for some time before his death on Wednesday night, his son told Kansas First News.
The Westboro Baptist Church had been described as “arguably the most obnoxious and rabid hate group in America,” by the Southern Poverty Law Centre in the United States which tracks hate groups.
He and the church had become known for holding signs saying “God Hates Fags” and “You’re Going To Hell” at the funerals of US soldiers, saying that he was protesting the military’s tolerance of homosexuality.
The church had a strongly conservative message of anti-homosexuality and had picketed many high profile events across the US in recent years.
The church won a legal victory three years ago when the US Supreme Court ruled that it could not be sued for inflicting pain on grieving families. The church had argued that it was expressing its right to free speech.
(Video: BBC Explore/YouTube)
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“Roll up and see for yourselves how copy and paste works in journalism!”
@James Groden: watch as we delete all comments that don’t agree with our opinion and in some cases don’t allow comments at all!
Watch as we slightly reword Government press releases on various subjects where the public are told to get back in our boxes and do what we’re told and then turn the comment section off, because we don’t don’t want any dissenting voices.
Watch as we shut down the comment section when too many comments go against the narrative.. Breaking News! “Ten People killed in overnight raids in Gaza” Yea shut down comments on that one, as we don’t want People giving out about Israel.. Journalists my ar_se
In the past few weeks statements made by government Minister’s, the comment section has been closed. The taking down of comments that contain no personal or unacceptable comment but would have been critical of government have been removed. Bit hypocritical of the Journal.
@William slevin: respond to what? your mas ravings? No point. At this stage I pity you.
@establishment loyalist fascist lil joey:
I didn’t ignore it no offence I forgot about it…also its not a priority to reply to every reply you make to me which is alot…
But I think it was about the 70 year old assaulted in clare? I don’t know the circumstances of the assault but I’m guessing your employing it was done by anti mass immigration protestors….do you have proof of this? But let’s say it’s true I have no idea….I abhor violence against anyone unless its done for defensive reasons….if this 70 year old man was attacked by one of the protestors….then I would condemned such an attack as that infringes on the right of the 70 year old not to be assaulted for no reason…
So I would condemn such an attack
@William slevin: why willie and leave your mad raving influence others wrongly. Like your support for the protest in Clare….you know the one….I asked for your view of what happemed there on Sunday…and you ignored my question…..
Also you repeatedly ignore me asking you for proof of the false claim you keep making against me that I’ve incited hatred…well Where’s your proof…I want the comments and the articles where I supposedly incited hatred….
You haven’t so far because you can’t…because your a liar….
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