In the autumn of 2007, the father of a US Marine whose funeral was picketed by the WBC was awarded $5 million in damages. In response to pickets at funerals, Kansas passed a law prohibiting picketing at such events. In 2004, Margie Phelps and her son Jacob were arrested for trespassing, disorderly conduct and failure to obey after disregarding a police officer's order during an attempted protest.
WESTBORO BAPTIST NUMBER PRESS 1 FOR SERIES
In the 1990s the church won a series of lawsuits against the City of Topeka and Shawnee County for efforts taken to prevent or hinder WBC picketing, and was awarded approximately $200,000 in attorney's fees and costs associated with the litigation. In 1995 Phelps Sr.'s eldest grandson, Benjamin Phelps, was convicted of assault and disorderly conduct after spitting into the face of a passerby during a picket. The pickets have resulted in several lawsuits. One of Westboro's followers estimated that the church spends $250,000 a year on picketing. As of March 2009 the church claims to have participated in over 41,000 protests in over 650 cities since 1991. The group carries out daily picketing in Topeka (purportedly six per day with fifteen on Sunday and travels nationally to picket the funerals of gay victims of murder, gay-bashing or people who have died from complications relating to AIDS other events related or peripherally related to gay people Kansas City Chiefs American football games and live pop concerts. The organization is known for picketing at public events and funerals, often those related or peripherally related to gay people or soldiers in the military. 3.2 Lawsuit against WBC - funeral pickets ruled protected speech.2.1 Purpose of protests and church actions.
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