tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140116430796777887.post2168593847736526115..comments2023-05-16T00:19:10.534-07:00Comments on One More Step | Reverend Ricky Hoyt: God Hates PhelpsRick Hoyt-McDanielshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09466114281907605221noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140116430796777887.post-47835944239162751812007-11-02T09:45:00.000-07:002007-11-02T09:45:00.000-07:00Abortion protesters can not go into the clinic but...Abortion protesters can not go into the clinic but they can stand outside. In 1989 ACT UP protesters went too far when they took their protest against the Catholic church's condom policy inside St. Patrick's and disrupted a mass. But it is our American right to protest private events, as long as we hold our protest in a public place. Again, it would be helpful if I actually knew the circumstances of the particular protest in question here. And this jury did agree with you that the Phelps clan crossed the line here. But we should not accept limits to our free speech lightly. And I'll be curious to see the outcome of the appeal.Rick Hoyt-McDanielshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09466114281907605221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140116430796777887.post-599751238266288402007-11-02T02:55:00.000-07:002007-11-02T02:55:00.000-07:00Even if they were on the sidewalk, that doesn't gi...Even if they were on the sidewalk, that doesn't give them the right to disrupt a private function. The courts have upheld laws forcing abortion protesters to keep a certain distance from the clinic.Joel Monkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10631333436948102576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140116430796777887.post-26612906764344373702007-11-01T22:40:00.000-07:002007-11-01T22:40:00.000-07:00it depends on whether the protest took place on pu...it depends on whether the protest took place on public or private ground. I haven't found a description of the circumstances of this case, but I have seen news coverage of Phelp's group protesting at previous military funerals and they were always standing on sidewalks. A sidewalk would be a free speech zone even if the funeral were happening just over the cemetary fence.Rick Hoyt-McDanielshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09466114281907605221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140116430796777887.post-81475107154731435712007-11-01T15:28:00.000-07:002007-11-01T15:28:00.000-07:00This has nothing whatsoever to do with the first a...This has nothing whatsoever to do with the first amendment. A funeral is a private function. Their right to speak is not being infringed, only their "right" to intrude- it's analogous to claiming the first amendment gives me the right to break into your house and speak to you during dinner.Joel Monkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10631333436948102576noreply@blogger.com