Anti-Gay Group To Protest King's Funeral

tp
February 3 2006, 3:59PM

Don't get yourself in a huff over this. Heard about it and it's been in the ATL media already. The city and county are taking precautions in keeping all protestors at a distance. Their rhetoric won't make a difference.

This same group is going around the country protesting at funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and are a bunch of wackos. They're all over the place in regards to shyt they protest.

Personally, everyone needs to check their damn agendas at the door and give this whole gay/anti-gay shyt a rest. Mrs. King's focus was so much broader than any gay rights...she STOOD for ALL people. The straight, black, latino, gay, anti-gay, right, left, asian, women, children, men, etc. Who cares....let's celebrate this great woman and her legacy.

savvy101
February 3 2006, 4:18PM

What tp said!

Kenneth Winfrey
February 3 2006, 4:21PM

This proves that there is nothing beyond politicization in America. The "agendists" take whatever they can to promote their own--especially death.

Jaun Mosby
February 3 2006, 4:35PM

I certainly hope the authorities keep Fred Phelps and his twisted brigade at a respectable distance from Mrs. King's family.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if fire from heaven just consumed every last one of those homophobic assholes?

Let us pray.

Harry
February 3 2006, 5:27PM

After reading the flier, all I can say is WOW. These people's hate have no bounds

Mel Smith
February 3 2006, 7:06PM

These people have made God into some kind of a monster. History teaches us that demonic individuals always believe that they speak for God, as they oppress groups of people. Many of the people who oppressed us for the color of our skin were 'Christians.' Some people who hated Jewish people are 'Christian' too, and those indivuals have quoted biblical scriptures to justify their demonic ways

cmoney
February 3 2006, 7:19PM

Anybody who would be so disrespectful as to protest a funeral deserves a major ass kicking. Some things are just off limits and heckling mourners is about as low as you can go. I read elsewhere that most of these people are related to each other (yes, incest has been rumoured)and have no stable employment. They are hoping to provoke a confrontation so that they can file a lawsuit and collect big $$. I hope these inbred crackers get what's coming to them.

m
February 3 2006, 8:06PM

@Mel -

Does that mean all "Christians" are evil? Wouldn't that same logic mean that all blacks are murderers and drug dealers because of the Crips and Bloods' activities? Isn't this the same prejudicial attitudes were complaining about towards us (gays)?

Was this story posted for political reasons too...pushing a gay agenda tied into Mrs. King's death? Are we just as guilty minus the outward protests?

Mark Norris
February 3 2006, 10:09PM

Well, if you ask me if we continue to allow stuff like this to continue then it is only going to get worse and worse. How in the hell are black folks going to let these homophobic a--holes disrupt a black funeral? A funeral for our "keeper of the flame". How can we just sit back and continue to just report and read such an act and not have any type of plan for action. I don't know about you guys, but I am going to use my means to do something. If we all put our sources together something can get done.

From the gate, how could anyone let somebody start a website with such a name. Forget freedom of speech, all speech is not approapriate. You can't yell fire in a crowded building when there isn't one.

Well, I ain't afraid to go to this website and let them have it!!!!!

Mark

Mel Smith
February 3 2006, 10:29PM

M, I'm a Christian too, dude, and I only said that SOME Christians are guilty of being prejudice. I do not stereotype all of anyone. We cannot escape the fact that SOME Christians are prejudice.

Kegan
February 4 2006, 12:24AM

Its a Shame.. its just amazing how these so called Religious leaders want to take God's Role from him..Its interesting how parts of the Bible is read only to point out the spek in the eye of another and the individuals pay no mind to the Beam thats blinding theirs.
the Message of Christianity as any honest christian should understand it is to bring unity and not in any way to condemn!! and it it quite clear in the Ministery of Christ in the scriptures.
It would not supprise me that if Night would suddenly turn to Day that many of these same proteters would be cought up in some Gay act or some street courner turning tricks.. But only time will tell. It is time that persons STOP using any kind of minority as some type of foot stool in other for them to feel justified..

junie
February 4 2006, 1:04AM

Rev. Phelps needs to do as the Bible says, "rightly divide the word of truth." He's been ignorant of what the scriptures really say about being gay for too long. I hope the family can ignore him on Saturday. It's sad enough they have lost their mother, and all of America has lost a leader of us all. I will definitely say a prayer for the family.

Mark Norris
February 4 2006, 1:41AM

Talk, talk, talk, talk. Let's get they asses. That is what I am talking about.
Mark

Mark Norris
February 4 2006, 1:45AM

See, this is what I am all about doing. Click link:

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/13778066.htm

Mark

chris-leo
February 4 2006, 2:11AM

in a strange way, i'm sort of glad this is happening in this way. it's time for people, who want to evoke coretta and dr. king as role models, to take a good and hard look at themselves.

coretta and martin stood for and fought for civil rights, freedom, equality and respect - for the fulfillment of the american ideals of freedom and justice for ALL. the people who are protesting her funeral do not. if someone can tell me how you can be both with coretta and with those people protesting her funeral, please tell me. i say you can't. freedom for some is not freedom. civil rights for some is apartheid. that's why coretta fought on behalf of GLBT rights. president bush felt compelled to mention her at his state of the union address, and i can't think of a president in recent times who is more antithetical - in such a public way - to what she believed.

we, the people - particularly those of us who are homophobic and call ourselves "christians" should take a good look in the mirror. if you share positions on public policy with the KKK and the taliban, you need to think HARD about how good a person you are.

James
February 4 2006, 6:11AM

I wish I wasn't taking the LSAT this weekend. I'd drive down to Atlanta with my own fire and brimstone for these a!*holes!
Anyway I agree with tp, the King legacy will live on, it's just up to us to continue the dream..

faye harris
February 4 2006, 10:19AM

i,am confused because i did,t know my god hated i must be serving some other god and reading some other bible. somebody help me under stand it better . peace and all the i can give faye

Troy
February 4 2006, 10:23AM

God is Love and Love is for EVERYONE.

Rest In Peace Mrs. King, Rest In Peace.

Fratman1906
February 4 2006, 11:31AM

It is sad that this type of viciousness still exists within America today. And as long as there are people who think like this, we must be activists at the ballot box to insure that these wrong-thinking people are not elected to positions where they can disenfranchise us. Mrs. King supported a genuine, vibrant community of diverse people. Yes, that included the likes of Fred Phelps. But she also shared the "dream" of Dr. King that "we would all sit down together at the table of brotherhood." Lastly, it is a shame that the mainstream media will give this type of hype undeserved attention while minimizing truly important issues of the poor, the underprivileged, the unempowered, the elderly, those trapped in a world of drugs, HIV/AIDS, etc. Shem hotep.

Troy
February 4 2006, 11:59AM

C-SPAN has on TV now the live coverage of Mrs. King being laid in State in Atlanta, Georgia
Time now; 11:51 a.m. eastern standard time.

taylor Siluwé
February 4 2006, 12:58PM

Somebody really needs to do something about that man. Hopefully, his blatant disregard for the King family in this hour of sorrow will finally bring him his long-deserved comeuppance.

I pray it will.

Regan DuCasse
February 4 2006, 2:52PM

Rev. Eddie Long announced very recently when the GA legislature was deciding on a marriage ban, stated that even if the Klan was against gay marriage, he'd side with the Klan.

And in Texas, the Klan showed up to protest marriage equality and I wondered if Long would be eager to stand alongside the Klan there.

Hate attracts hate.
Leonard Pitts, Jr. who writes for the Miami Herald did write about how blacks are letting themselves be drawn into a campaign of hate with whites who just as soon voted with leadership that ignores their needs too.

Considering Mrs. King's support of gay equality, and Long's statements in solidarity with the very organization that killed Mrs. King's husband and left her kids fatherless....

the horrible circumstance that Long would be officiating at her funeral makes me so, so SICK!

sam
February 4 2006, 4:30PM

i learned that evil people always do evil things in the name of god. god this, god that. where is god? whenver when peole god this or got that to me, i would think they either have evil plan inside, trying to do something evil or they are simply stupid having no idea what they are talking about. whenever someone says god, be vigilant.

JAZ
February 4 2006, 7:52PM

The very fact that this "church" would protest during Mrs. King's funeral proves that ignorance and hatred are still thriving today. As they stand and protest, probably chanting may God have mercy on the souls of LBGT people and their allies, I'll be praying that God have mercy on their souls for pretending to be a church that professes the name of Jesus. Perhaps they should be concerned where they will spend eternity for living out a call against that of Jesus, which is to share God's agape with humanity.

I believe that one day we will achieve a dream of equality in all facets our society, after all "all thing are possible through Christ Jesus who strengthens us."

sam
February 4 2006, 11:25PM

King had dreams; yet he had never had dream that one day a black church man would stand side by side and hand in hand protesting against his own people. can you believe that? knock him down and step on his back so he wont get a chance to turn around and kick his dirty ass hard to hell of no return, along with his followers and likes....

Michael Petrelis
February 5 2006, 12:49AM

I have written a humorous essay about Tim Russert, Phelps and Mrs. King. It's at my blog:

http://petrelisfiles.com/

Tim Russert found himself in a large vat of boiling hot water heated by liberal bloggers and pundits because of his boorish questioning of Sen. Barack Obama two weeks back on "Meet the Press." ...

If I were to interview Russert, here are questions I'd want him to answer.

Q: I want to talk a little bit about the language people are using in the politics now of 2006, and I refer you to some comments that Rev. Phelps made yesterday in a flyer posted on his web site. He said revered civil rights advocate Mrs. King was a "fag-enabler." What do you think of that?

Q: Rev. Phelps has traveled to many parts of the country to protest at the funerals of murdered gays, U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and West Virginia miners, and said some things that obviously were noted in this country and around the world. Let’s read, and come back and talk about it.

(Flyer from Phelps, Feb. 3) "God Hates Fags! Fag-Enablers! Ergo, God hates Coretta Scott King and is now tormenting her with fire and brimstone where the worm never dies and the fire is never quenched, and the smoke of her torment ascendeth up for ever and ever."

Q: Your reply, Mr. Russert? Is it appropriate to call the First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement a "fag-enabler"?

For argument's sake, I'll accept that Russert had every right and good cause to ask Obama about Belafonte's political statements, and, that the senator is his brother's keeper. At the same time, it must also be alright to lump Russert and Phelps together in the brotherhood of straight white men, and to ask the newsman to condemn the reverend's hateful comments and actions...

T
February 5 2006, 1:18PM

I wonder if the King's children, who are also anti-gay, will look upon this and have their eyes opened to the sort of bigotted hate with which they have sided. Imagine, being on the same page as those who would declare one's courageous mother in Hell...if that doesn't knock some sense into them, nothing will.

Mel Smith
February 5 2006, 7:06PM

T, The oldest King son is not anti-gay. He spoke out against homophobia.

Dan Borroff
February 5 2006, 8:53PM

Take heart. The Northshore Baptist Church sponsored an all day seminar for Focus on the Family on how to turn gay kids into un-gay kids. 1200 people attended the event last Spring, north of Seattle.

An event was planned for the Fall. A GI who attended the church was killed in Iraq by an IED. Fred Phelps planned a protest with his 'God Hates Fags' and 'Burning in Hell Now' signs. Northshore cancelled their sponsorship of the next Un-gay event.

They got a glimpse into the world of gay people. A people who, though not perfect, for whom prejudice and terror is totally unwarranted.

I was, as a small boy, handed Klan literature by our barber in Arkansas. I was shocked and horrified to the core by the unbelievable accusations that "colored people could not control their impulses" (this was 1960). I could not, from that day forward, accept any stereotype without feeling the horror I felt that day. It is plain that the same accusation is aimed at gay people to by the descendents of the Klan, the White Citizens Councils, and the John Birch Society. These are the people who fund the mega-churches and Focus on the Family.

The hate has put on a different dress but it's still no prettier. At the same time we must remember that to honor Mrs. King we must embrace the hope that understanding can come to anyone. We must work to quell our own hatred for others. We must stand in our moral authority. We must focus on non-violence and believe in its power. To do that we must constantly reach across the divisions that come between us. Starting with the little divisions is as important as those huge ones.

Deepest love to Coretta Scott King and all beauty to all who follow her model of courage.

Legal Rebel
February 5 2006, 10:01PM

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Hipocrits usually pick and choose what Bible verses to emphasis and those they ignore. Hate is a fundamental emotion practiced by very narrow-minded people. These so-called Religious Right folks choose to ignore God's message of peace and love. There is no logical reasoning in their thought processes.

I compare this fundamentalist movement to "terrorism." These homophobic groups are as dangerous as the Taliban. It's not enough just for these terrorists to have these ignorant views, but they want to enforce them on everyone. It's irrational. The best way to fight this religous terrorism is by education and leading by example.

"Let He Who is Without Sin Cast the First Stone" John 8:7.

Texas76132
February 6 2006, 8:00AM

Reverend Phelps was on Black radio in Dallas/Fort Worth last week discussing his plans to protest at Mrs. King's funeral so this is no suprise. He was on that same so-called Christian station that aligned its self with the Klan during the gay marriage vote last November. I never ever thought I would hear a day when Black people would support something so horrid against our lady Coretta Scott King. I knew that Black Christians hated us, but I just didn't think it was that bad. It was truly a wake-up call. It's best to ignore that evil man because if he does what he did in Austin, he will be a no-show and his supporters will do his dirty work for him. Many dignitaries will be at the funeral, so the secret service would not let him get anywhere near that church anyway.

FRE
February 6 2006, 3:32PM

Actually, we should be grateful for the irreverend Phelps. He is so unreasonable and extreme that he turns many of our detractors into our supporters. When people see his hatred and learn what we have to deal with, some of them become our friends.

We'd make more progress if we had more enemies as extreme as the irreverend Phelps.

Regan DuCasse
February 6 2006, 7:05PM

FRE, I'd like to believe that some people could be turned around.
But why must it take a tragedy?
Look at what happened in New Bedford just a few days ago.
A teenager deliberately enters a bar and tries to kill innocent patrons there.
His rampage continues until three people die, including his stupid self.

I was listening to talkradio discussing the incident and one black caller put it like this:
"Homosexuals wouldn't be treated like this if they left heterosexuals alone.
He was getting hit on all the time and he could understand why someone would try to kill a homosexual. They mess with people children and won't leave people alone."

I found his entire statement so loaded with bullshi*, and so did the radio host to his credit.
But that statement is certainly the same thought of millions.
When the public was allowed to vote, they voted against gay people's equality.
When judges had a vote. They voted against it.
When legislatures vote, they wrangle and then vote against equality.
All this distrust must be resolved, because in the meantime, blood is being shed.

And just because it's mostly gay blood, it's immoral to let equality constantly be deferred.

Thomas
February 6 2006, 10:29PM

My heavens!...why are they choosing this occasion of all things. I hope this does not take place. This should definitely be a peaceful service for Mrs. King. Legions a extra security will be needed. My God!

Scott
February 7 2006, 12:37PM

Selective quoting of the Bible has been used against black people before ("slaves be obedient to your masters"), so out of all people, with their history of oppression, I think that black Americans should know better than to nitpick and use the book as a hate tool for their own agendas, of something they may not be able to understand. Goin off on a completely different direction, though, let me say this. I believe that many popular black entertainers are in the closet, and it would help unbelievably much to open people's eyes and shock them a little (needed) if these "macho" normal dudes came out in the open and kept it REAL. It would be so counterculture, from the negative aspects of what certain black hate churches are preaching right now, right now in the black communities. I know I'm probably adding nothing new, but I just thought I'd put my two cents in, anyway.

Scott
February 7 2006, 12:40PM

Then again, people are about the most prejudice hateful race of beings. I think the vast majority of the human race is as dumb as a box of rocks. With all the technology we have, we're still basically fucking dirty apes.

carey Foster
February 7 2006, 1:45PM

My name is the Rev. Carey Foster from Detroit,MI I like to make column on the bad hateful Fundmentalist Christians let Coretta Scott King's Soul rest and peace. Coretta Scott King was a true Christian who Jesus and Love all humanity regarding of race, color,creed, religion, sex, sexual ornienation. Coretta Scott king is living her Husband ( Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Dream) that will are only equal in the eyes of sight of God. in the Gospel of John said that Jesus came into the world to condermn the world, but the world can be saved through Christ Jesus. were all of God's Children if you the Fundementalist Christian can't understand they will blast hell!!! whole open

holly
February 7 2006, 10:32PM

regan,
don't lie and don't spread gossip that is not true. eddie long did not say that he would side with the kkk about anything. all he has ever said, over and over is that he can love a liar but that does not make lying right or okay. he loves people that struggle with their sexuality but he cannot tell you that something that the bible says is wrong is okay. you cannot change God's word just because it feels good to you. that does not mean that someone hates you because they tell you that you are wrong about something that you think is right. it means that they disagree. anybody that says that God hates you is a hatemonger and is evil. God loves us all but he does not love our sin and he does not wink at our sin. simple.

Jason
February 8 2006, 12:27AM

Well I don't believe in the statement "love the person but hate the sin". Particularly when this statement applies to homosexuality. I believe this statement is under false pretense's of love when it comes to homosexuality. This is not real love. The turth of the matter is, whether people believe homosexuality is wrong or right, it does not give them the right to protest against Ms. King's funeral. What happen to decency? We are all Americans. And all of us should have equal rights. How can you call yourselves Christians when you help promote hate and discrimination against a group of people? Gay people. Homosexuals! How is this Christian? How is this right? How is this legal? How is this not bigotry? In my opinion a real Christian would fight for my right to be treated as an equal citizen. Even though they may not agree with the way I live my life. They understand that I have a "God given" right to be treated as an equal and that our constitution forbids them to legislate laws under religious pretense's. Those who vote against and try to legislate laws in command to go against the gay communties rights are hypocrites. If you don't speak against injustice everywhere then you don't speak against injustice. How can you call yourselves lover's of Christ and live this way? It still is mind boggling to me.

TPro
February 8 2006, 5:43AM

Could Phelps and his band of hate mongrels be behind those Alabama church fires recently? Could that be the "protest" he incites? There were 4 more on the day of the Coretta's funeral....all black congregations.

TPro
February 8 2006, 5:49AM

Come to think of it, probably not since he likes to thrust his hatred directly into the faces of all human life. May the vision of Martin and Coretta live forever...

Mel Smith
February 8 2006, 8:52AM

Holly, we must be careful with our biblical interpretations because various human authors contributed to the bible. From my understanding, Jesus never disrespected homosexuality but he condemned divorce and hyprocrisy. It seems that Jesus spoke about the issues that were most important to him. Homosexual people were here since the beginning of mankind and we have contributed greatly to humanity. Some of us adopt kids, abused by heterosexuals. I agree with Jason's first sentence.

holly
February 8 2006, 1:17PM

mel
that makes no sense to me. when you read the entire Bible, there is not one passage that leads one to believe that homosexuality is not a sin. there have been liars since the beginning of time but that does not make lying okay. my brother is a liar but i don't understand it and i don't like it when he lies - i don't hate him. just because you have encountered vitriol from some does not mean that everyone that does not agree with homosexuality hates the homosexual. that's a twisted argument.

holly
February 8 2006, 1:25PM

mel,
also - either you believe that the Bible is divine or you don't. if you don't then, that's that. if you do, then you cannot pick and choose what to believe, might as well not believe at all if you are gonna treat the Bible as a buffet. if you are gonna narrow it down to Jesus' words only then remember this, Jesus came to fulfill, not to abolish or delete the law. he was the fulfillment of the old testament not the abolishment of it. he didn't say to the adulterous woman, go and sin some more, he said go and sin no more.

Mel Smith
February 8 2006, 3:27PM

Holly, my sexual orientation does not have anything to do with right and wrong. My sexual orientation was given to me by God and you are not qualified to disagree with that. Now, you must not know anything about how people used the bible to justify African slavery. Did your minister teach you that? You are brainwash by oppressive Christianity, sister. Jesus was totally against oppressing people for who they are. It's not ok to use the bilbe against any group of people in a oppressive manner. Sexual orientation is a given. Most importantly, my sexual orientation is equal to the heterosexual orientation!

Monteena
February 8 2006, 7:02PM

One should never ever judge another, so for them to judge anyone is a sin itself. These people are judging those who are gay along with Mrs. King. If you are a true christain then you would understand that God does not want us to judge on another. Also, one must remember even Jesus surrounded himself with sinners. Mrs. King was being christ-like. She did not judge them even though she knew that being gay is a sin. So I think God is praising her for standing up for those who are gay. They are human-beings and we shall not judge our fellow man/woman.

Mel Smith
February 8 2006, 9:55PM

Monteena, living a heterosexual life would be a "sin" for me because I am not straight!

holly
February 8 2006, 11:39PM

mel,
i need to say this and then i'm going back to my life. you said that Jesus never "disrespected" homosexuality. i take that to mean that you have not read a scripture where Jesus condemns homosexuality explicitly. i've never read a scripture where Jesus condemns or forbids pedophilia explicitly but it would be safe to say that God would not wink at a man being with a 3rd grader even if she said she wanted to do it. the old testament forbids bestiality. Jesus does not say explicitly not to fornicate with animals but i think that it's safe to say that it is a no-no. in Jesus, we have the fulfillment of scripture. He did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill in us, through His Spirit (not through our OWN strength), the ability to obey it. and he DID say that explicitly. peace and love, i've got a life to get back to.

Mel Smith
February 9 2006, 12:23AM

Holly, I do not want to get off topic because we're supposed to be talking about groups who use hate against others. Those hate groups are more open with their hate. But, my sexual orientation does not have anything to do with someone forcing themselves on a child. Therefore, I take offense to your comparison. Now, since you want to compare me to a child molester, I'll give you some examples of what HETEROSEXUALS have been doing lately. Recently, a 7-year-old girl was killed by her HETEROSEXUAL step father and her HETEROSEXUAL mother watched. The Bronx child was thrown in a tub of cold water by her HETEROSEXUAL step father and the man kept her under cold water. In addition, a 4-year-old Brooklyn boy was killed by his HETEROSEXUAL stepfather. The STRAIGHT man punched the boy in the face. Now, why don't you speak out against this? Why does it bother you who I am attractive too. Why will God punish me for this? Do you think God will punish me because I'm not sexually interested in members of the opposite sex? Most importantly, the people who you demonize actually adopt kids who were abused by STRAIGHT people. Therefore, why do you compare them to people who hurt kids? They are not straight and your interpretation of the bible is not meant for them. Why don't you support gay children who are harassed and stereotyped by straight kids. Do your God teach you and other straights to harass them. I suggest you study women's history before you quote biblical scriptures at me. Also, please explain how you can compare my sexual orientation to someone who forces themselve on a child? Homosexuality is a gift from God and your minister is simply wrong.