AMVETS CONDEMNS MISSOURI MILITARY FUNERAL RULING

District Court rules 2006 ban on funeral protest violates First Amendment

LANHAM, Md., Aug. 20, 2010—This week, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that two Missouri state laws from 2006 barring protests near funerals to be a violation of free speech rights, making the laws unconstitutional. AMVETS leaders quickly condemned the ruling, calling for an appeal, saying that a family’s right to grieve in privacy should trump tasteless hate speech.

“It’s sad to see that this particular judge feels the first amendment rights of a hate group are more important than the first amendment rights of grieving families,” said incoming AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop, a native of Missouri. “We hope that higher courts will reconsider this ruling which will clearly have a profound impact on military families who have lost a loved one.”

The ruling comes as a result of a lawsuit filed by the Kansas-based church that pickets military funerals. AMVETS leaders view the group’s continued litigation and hateful rhetoric as ways to build name recognition for the church, which is why AMVETS refuses to list its name or the name of its founder in any publications.

Recently, the church also forced a battle to the Supreme Court, hoping to overrule a landmark decision in federal court that would force the church to pay damages to a grieving father, Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., whose son’s funeral was picketed by the hate group. AMVETS is calling for the court to uphold the decision, awarding Snyder up to $17 million.

“Not only does AMVETS believe that these protests are completely tasteless, but we think they clearly violate First Amendment freedom of religion for the affected families,” said Hotop. “Military funerals are usually religious in some context and it’s abhorrent to think that a group like this could be granted this kind of access to disrupt such a solemn and private affair.”

AMVETS leaders will continue to call on courts to bar military funeral protests in an effort to protect the families of the fallen. For updates on this story, check back regularly with the blog for American Veteran magazine, http://americanveteranmagazine.blogspot.com.

About AMVETS:    
A leader since 1944 in preserving the freedoms secured by America’s armed forces, AMVETS provides support for veterans and the active military in procuring their earned entitlements, as well as community service and legislative reform that enhances the quality of life for this nation’s citizens and veterans alike. AMVETS is one of the largest congressionally-chartered veterans’ service organizations in the United States, and includes members from each branch of the military, including the National Guard and Reserves. To learn more visit www.amvets.org.