Radical group to protest Ohio's "Let Them Rest in Peace Act"

Friday, January 27, 2006

For immediate release: January 27, 2006

Contact: Rep. John Boccieri 330-518-5366

Katie Jones 614-466-1464

Radical Group to Protest Ohio’s “Let Them Rest in Peace Act”

(COLUMBUS)– State Representative John Boccieri (D-New Middletown) introduced legislation this week to provide a “set-back” distance to protests at funerals for Iraqi War Veterans. Members of a Kansas-based group are demonstrating at veterans funerals saying the military deaths in Iraq are punishment from God, and the group is in Ohio.

According to a news release at the ‘hate group’s’ website, today at noon they are organizing a protest at the Ohio Statehouse saying Rep Boccieri is “Bible/Constitution Ignorant.”

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas started protesting at military funerals last summer and have demonstrated at 80 funerals thus far believing America is doomed and God is killing soldiers while allowing such tragedies as Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. The organized group believes America is being punished for its worship of dead soldiers and homosexuality.

The official website of the Westboro Baptist Church www.godhatesfags.com and http://www.godhatesamerica.com/ the group lists six Ohio Iraq War Vets funerals to protest, however, it is undetermined if they’ve actually protested at the funerals. The website also listed a public forum held at Capital University this week which discussed hostility towards the Gay Community as a possible protest venue.

“It is hard to believe there are people out there who think like this,” Representative Boccieri said. “Their extremist views don’t reflect Christianity or the mainstream political dialogue,” he added. “Even war protestors support the troops and mourn the loss of American Heroes.”

The legislation is scheduled for hearings in February and Rep Boccieri said he has the commitment of political leaders to get this legislation passed. “I believe this legislation transcends Democrat or Republican lines. It is more about decency than politics,” he said.

This week the ACLU officially came out against the “Let Them Rest in Peace Act,” saying it violates free speech. However, the legislator disagrees with the ACLU’s position. The legislation requires a 300ft set-back for protests at all funerals one hour before and up to one hour after ceremonies enforced by local law enforcement.

“My civil rights end where yours begin. The question mark is where do the rights to free speech end and where do the family’s right to privacy begin? I believe that line begins 300ft away from a grieving family. They get to spew their hate, but at a distance,” Boccieri said.

State Representative Boccieri is a C-130 Pilot in the Air Force Reserves and completed his fourth rotation in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom last September.

“I couldn’t imagine my wife having to carrying my children through a crowd of protestors to view their father for the last time. A memory I would not want burned in their minds, and this group should be ashamed of the memory they are leaving for children,” he concluded.