Government can’t deny free speech, but citizens blunt its impact

Members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church protested outside Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's funeral in Westminster, Md. in March 2006, while bikers block view of funeral goers. (Daily Record/Sunday News -- File)

When Matthew Snyder’s father Albert sued Westboro Baptist Church for its homophobic protest outside his son’s military funeral, Matthew’s mother declined to join.

Now she has written letters to several East Coast newspapers, including the Baltimore Sun, explaining why. She says she truly believes in free speech and did not wish to give the church members the “platform and spotlight they had been seeking.”

Julie Francis also writes, “I did not want the perception that Matt's funeral was a circus. Although their words are disgusting, we did not see the members of WBC, and Matt's funeral was a beautiful and loving tribute to a young man well loved and well respected. The WBC, sickening as they are, were not able to overshadow the beauty of our dear beloved Matt and of those who surrounded him with grace, honor, dignity and love. But people who were not even there believe that these seven insignificant members of an insignificant church were able to 'ruin' this tribute — this saying goodbye — to our Matt.”

Matthew’s grandparents, John and Cay Francis wrote the York Daily Record, saying, “Unlike the news written in the past 4 1/2 years by the media, most of whom were not present at the funeral of our grandson, Lance Cpl. Matt Snyder, we would like to tell the way it really was that day.

“As we approached St. John's Catholic Church, a line of Patriot Guard Riders were standing shoulder to shoulder alongside the church, each holding a large American flag. The flags were flying straight out like one continuous banner stretching forever. The colors of the flags were as vibrant as the dignity these riders were showing for our grandson, whom they had never met. Later I learned that this group was a shield to protect the funeral goers from a protest group (none of which I ever saw or heard). ...

“Too bad national attention has been given to Westboro Baptist Church due to lawsuits.”

Yes, too bad, but that did result in a high court ruling for free speech. The government can't deny free speech, but citizens can act to counter its impact.