Biker activists shut down Westboro Baptists in Joplin, Missouri

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story

Biker activists shut down Westboro Baptists in Joplin, Missouri
Posted on 05.31.11
By Stephen C. Webster

A protest by the infamous Westboro Baptist Church was not carried out in Joplin, Missouri on Saturday as planned after a large contingent of bikers showed up and flushed them out of a zone marked off for their demonstration.

The hate group, known for protesting soldiers returning from war, had planned their event to coincide with President Obama’s appearance at Missouri Southern State University, to memorialize the 143 confirmed to have been killed during recent storms.

As you can see from the video below, it did not turn out well for the protesters, as one — surrounded by police at the start of the footage — is forced to flee as hundreds of noisy bikers swept past the police line and occupied the protest area.

...........

“When the police saw what was about to happen they grabbed him and tried to push the bikers back!! Then they told the guy “run you stupid mother fucker” And I am quoting!! We heard that more of them were blocked at a local truck stop by a few awesome truckers!! They pinned them in until it was over, not sure about this one just what we were hearing!! You may think of bikers as mean or lawless but when it comes to things like this they really step up!!!”



Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/05/biker-activists-shut-down-westboro-baptists-in-joplin-missouri/

[aquart]

1. Freedom of speech and assembly works for so many, doesn't it?

[snooper2]

3. For the most part, works pretty damn good here

there's a good North Korea thread going on though :rofl:

[cliffordu]

5. YEP - Free speech is a great thing!!!

Having to back up that shit they talk, not so much.

Daddy always said I could call him any name I wanted to as long as I could 'carry the freight' attached to it.....

[The Stranger]

2. There used to be a board game called "Illuminati" involving conflict between various groups.

This calls that to mind.

[apnu]

4. That game was awesome! (nt)

[FSogol]

10. +1 I agree. n/t

[0rganism]

12. "Cycle Gangs" assist privileged attack to destroy "Nephews of God"?

Structural proximity to the "Local Police Departments" offers no protection, hehe.

Except NoG is a no-power group, immune to outright destruction... it'd have to be powered up via the Brainwash expansion rule set, IIRC.

[PJPhreak]

6. "Then they told the guy “run you stupid mother fucker” And I am quoting!!"

BAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW HAHAHAHAHAHAHLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

Thats Hilarious!!!!!!

[HelenWheels]

7. Can see another law suit here

I do NOT agree with what the Westboro Church says but I do believe they have a right to say it. The Westboro Church may be able to sue the police department for not protecting them. This whole event is anti free speech and the right to protest. Not a good sign for future protests. If the majority can determine what the minority does it makes me afraid for our freedoms.

[Kelvin Mace]

8. Good luck

Courts in NC have ruled that police have no obligation to protect you from harm.

In 1988 a man went crazy and started shooting at passing motorists. The local sheriff's dept set up a road block at one point, but continued to direct drivers into the shooting zone from another point, resulting in two deaths, if memory serves.

The families sued, and were told by the court that the police had no "obligation" to actually perform their duties, and could not be held libel for people's death, no matter how negligent they were in the performance of their duty.

Four people died despite repeated calls from family members and friends that Michael Hayes possessed firearms, was threatening to kill people, and was becoming increasingly agitated and violent.

Despite actually discharging a firearm in from of two deputies, neither saw this as a reason to arrest the man.

Later when multiple reports of shots fired at passing cars and reports of people gunned down were phoned in, the Forsythe Co. sheriff's dept decided to respond in force. They set up a road block, then proceeded to direct motorists directly into the kill zone for reasons that remain unexplained to this day.

The courts protected the police from civil responsibility ruling:

The general rule followed in this state is that ordinarily law enforcement agencies and officials are not under a duty to protect individuals from criminal actions of others unless there is a "special relationship" between the injured person and the police or a "special duty" arising because the police have promised protection to a particular individual.

In NC, at least, you may be gunned down in the police station and the police are under no obligation to act tp prevent your death.

http://nc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19910903_0040407.NC.htm/qx

[AndyTiedye]

11. A Bit Like Yelling "Fire" in a Crowded…

…NRA convention. :hide:

[kestrel91316]

13. Police have no duty to protect anyone. So I have been told in L.A. By police officers.

[prete_nero]

9. too many cops

This is in reply more to the post about how the police aren't 'required' to help you. I'm not sure if this post is meant to be anti-cop or just informative so I won't assume.
So support or rebutt...your point I just want to say this. You have to look at this from a litigation point of view. If it was ruled that the police has a Legal Duty to protect everyone from harm every single law enforcement agency would be bankrupt.
There ARE times when things go wrong and departments should be held accountable, and hopefully that happens through whatever means.
But then look at it this way. Resident A lives 30 miles from town and in the middle of no where, they get robbed and unfortunately killed. Under the 'required to protect' scenario A's wife could then sue the county/police for not protecting them. This may sound brash but you KNOW that if it was possible then people would sue the police for everything and anything.

The police are NOT a private security force and to get the same level of personal security we would need to hire TONS of officers to 'make sure nothing goes wrong'. I don't think there are many here who would like to have many times more the amount of officers we currently have, police states have a bad reputation for a reason.

To be clear I think what happened in these examples are horrible, but our litigious society almost makes a ruling saying the police are not 'required' to protect people is almost a must.

And as far as the OP....I HATE Westboro jerks but unfortunately must agree that this is not a good thing. They suck but are exercising the rights given to them...I hope it doesn't set a bad precident for other types of protesters.