Westboro Baptist Church Protesters Blocked by Residents at Mo. Soldier's Funeral

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

Missouri Residents Block Westboro Baptist Church Protesters at Soldier's Funeral

Two children protest at a soldier's funeral. (AP Photo, file)

NEW YORK (CBS) Members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made a name for themselves by protesting the funerals of military servicemen and women across the country; holding signs reading "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," among other things.

But on Saturday, residents of a small town in Missouri banded together in a counter-demonstration against Westboro Baptist Church members protesting the funeral of a local fallen soldier.

According to FOX News affiliate WDAF, the fundamentalist church members planned on protesting First Sergeant C.J. Sadell's funeral in Weston, Mo.

Sadell was in Afghanistan when his unit was ambushed on Oct. 5. Five soldiers were killed and Sadell was badly injured. The 34-year-old succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 24.

When Weston residents learned about the protest, several hundred citizens rallied to show support for Sadell's family, armed with patriotic music and American flags large enough to cover any unwanted guests.

"We got everybody here early so we could take up all the parking spots," Rebecca Rooney of Weston, Mo., told WDAF.

Several supporters also traveled from California and Australia to be a part of the counterdemonstration, in which they created a human shield around the perimeter of the funeral.

Eventually, Westboro Church members retreated.

"I'm glad they left, but I'm sad they came," Rooney told the station.

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH CASE ON CRIMESIDER

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by Bowling-grandma November 9, 2010 11:45 PM EST: God Bless our troups over seas and at home. These evil GOD hating people who say they are protesting in the name of God are nothing but the devil's advocate. I hope they never have the need for out troups to protect them, and they would if needed dispite the dispicable actions of these creaps.; Reply to this comment


by GaPeeche November 9, 2010 5:28 PM EST: It is sad enough that a loved one has died without idiots screaming in their faces. Thank you Weston from the bottom of my heart.; Reply to this comment


by Wildwood1966 November 9, 2010 4:09 PM EST: it is horrible that these children are taught tis hate so early in their lives God loves everybody you are taught that from the time you are born - there is something wrong with that church and its members -the heartache that people feel after their child fought for us in a war and they come to bury him and there are protestors? They are the ones that will be punished; Reply to this comment


by Harden_Tar November 9, 2010 2:36 PM EST: Way to go. Once these wackos know that it will be hard for them to do their thing and the folks who are stopping them are getting more attention then they are, they will go away.; Reply to this comment