Motorcyclists Roll to Soldier Funerals (& shield families from Phelps)

[elehhhhna]

Feb. 21, 2006, 5:11AM
Motorcyclists Roll to Soldier Funerals


By RYAN LENZ Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters.

They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.

Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs _ explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.

The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/3673655.html

[NoodleBoy]

1. that's awesome.

[madokie]

7. One of my late friends who died in an accident a little over a year ago's

brother who is a gulf war 1 vet btw is one of the Patriot Guard Riders. fred phelps needs to be locked up and soon. people such as he,'phelps', is the main reason I cannot embrace the religous establishment.
Yes the kid came home from the first gulf war a very changed man, not unlike so many of us.

[bunkerbuster1]

2. whoda thunk loud pipes could serve a purpose?

I mean, other than to make humanity miserable?

[mom cat]

3. Lets roll!

Hey biker dudes:
:yourock:

[Rowdyboy]

4. I believe in free speech and protest but Phelps goes too far.....

Sad that it has to come to this.

[MadHound]

6. In many ways this is the reverse of the sixties

When anti-war protestors were met by, and outshouted in some cases, by bikers, construction workers, and other blue collar workers.

This is an appropriate response. Freedom of speech means having to accomodate the rights of those whose speech you don't agree with, or even violently hate. And if we limit Phelp's right to free speech, we will soon find ourselves regretting it, as our right to free speech and protest will erode away also.

[Lerkfish]

5. WONDERFUL! that's great! nt

[depakid]

8. Only a matter of time

before someone (or a mob) beats the "holy" shit out of Phelps and his crew.

Frankly, I'm surprised someone hasn't taken him out already.

[niallmac]

9. I love those guys!!

:loveya:

Might not be considered cool to say to a motorcycle gang but that's how I feel.

[Warpy]

10. That's the best way to counter Phelps and his family

because they're basically being funded so that towns will start restricting the exercise of free speech, thus forming the groundwork for eliminating our right to protest bad government entirely. Think of it, those restrictions on protests x number of feet from a funeral. This is how it starts, one little chip at a time.

Phelps is running a religious scam, and I'm wondering just why his "church," which consists of his family, is still tax exempt. That exemption needs to be removed and his books need to be opened, see just where his funding (which looks to be considerable) is coming from.

You've got to love the fact that a big, mean looking bike gang is stealing that weasel's thunder and drowning him out. I do.