Protest at Funeral in Ennis This Morning 1-2-07 10:15 am!

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

There is to be a Funeral Service for Navy Hospitalman Kyle A. Nolen - at 10:15 a.m., Tue., Jan. 2 - at Keever Funeral Home, 408 North Dallas Street, Ennis, Texas.
This is scheduled to be protested by the group out of Kansas that flaked out on the protest at the funeral of the Gentleman Who froze to death on Mt Hood.

Fox 4 mentioned this on their 5am news broadcast.

These people, if they do show up, are quite vocal and colorful in their actions which was shown in a video clip with the Fox 4 story. Fox also mentioned the 500 ft distance law for protesting a funeral.

The group also was supposed to be at President Fords Funeral services/public respect period yesterday and then again this morning (don't know if they made it to Washington or not).

I would assume the people here would be local followers of the Kansas Church.

here is the Obit from the funeral home:
http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries/o...46&fh_id=10416

Editorial from Ennis Paper
http://www.ennisdailynews.com/editorials.php

This looks like one, if the Kansas people show up, that there will be some fireworks.

[Wes]

These people are nuts.

[TXhummer2]

I hope the Veterans group that protect families at funerals are there, whether these nuts show up or not!

[Twisted]

These people are insane. I know what I'd love to do were they to try and disrupt a funeral for one of my family members. I stand by anyone's right to believe whatever they want to, but these people take it too far.

[David]

The church members were in Richardson on Saturday protesting a funeral there. They are all over the place.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

I'm heading down to Ennis in about 2 minutes-drinking my last bit of hot tea!

[photobykim]

I am not really one that pays to much attention to news things, what are they protesting, I dont understand why someone would protest a funeral or at a funeral. Thanks for anyone that takes the time to inform me. I'll check out the links above in just a few minutes and see if those have some info for my questions.

[JPalmer]

Kim.

This group generally hosts protests at funerals of soldiers in the ongoing Iraq/Afganistan conflict for the purpose of opposing the war. That being said...I'm not sure why they wanted to protest at the funeral of the climber...probably just more media-grabbing attention, which we play right into.
_____________________________

For everybody else...this is a photoJOURNALISM board...keep your politics to yourself or Abel will lock this thread.

If you can't keep your personal biases off in this thread....go away, you're ruining it for those that can.

[Tapper]

Originally Posted by JPalmer

Kim.

This group generally hosts protests at funerals of soldiers in the ongoing Iraq/Afganistan conflict for the purpose of opposing the war. That being said...I'm not sure why they wanted to protest at the funeral of the climber...probably just more media-grabbing attention, which we play right into.
_____________________________

For everybody else...this is a photoJOURNALISM board...keep your politics to yourself or Abel will lock this thread.

If you can't keep your personal biases off in this thread....go away, you're ruining it for those that can.

Actually, this is a church group that believes God is punishing America because we tolerate homosexuality. Their favorite sign is "God Hates Fags". They are not anti-war protestors at all. They often provide great video opportunities, as well as photo ops. Beware. Recently, crowds have attacked them and grown violent.

The Patriot Guard motorcycle group also plans to be there in force, so should be a number of photo-ops. The PG usually do all they can to silently blockade the church members from view of the families. They typically line up with flags, and can make for touching photos.

[STP Images]

Two Houston area servicemen were killed in Iraq over the past few days and the first funeral has already been planned in the Clear Lake area on Wednesday. Is it likely these protesters might attend these two funerals here as well? I might have to be there with a few GB of storage.

[JPalmer]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Brian.

[SaundraU]

Originally Posted by Paraquat

Two Houston area servicemen were killed and the first funeral has already been planned in the Clear Lake area on Wednesday. Is it likely these flakes might attend these two funerals here as well? I might have to be there with a few GB of storage.

Unfortuantly more then likely.

[Abel]

Originally Posted by JPalmer

For everybody else...this is a photoJOURNALISM board...keep your politics to yourself or Abel will lock this thread.

If you can't keep your personal biases off in this thread....go away, you're ruining it for those that can.

Thank you Jason... You are correct. Political comments/opinions and such are not allowed...

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

The Kansas people DID NOT SHOW UP, a reporter for Fox had a call at about 10:45 telling them that they were not going to show up and that they were heading to DC to protest at President Fords Services. Hence the Kansas group in my book now can be considered flakes and I will not go out of my way to go to one of their events since the last 2 in the Dallas area have been PRESS RELEASE ONLY actions.

Now there was a large contingent of the guys on motorcycles with american flags at the funeral home and I did stay in Ennis up to when the horse drawn hearse entered the graveyard and proceeded to a far section of the graveyard. I will get the pics up later today.

[SaundraU]

I wonder if the group specifically targets areas/venues that will get them more press/photo ops. So do we as photographers/photojournalists give legitimacy to groups, no matter what the group is about, that might not have otherwise?

Also based on what Brian says about the group, (they believe God is allowing our troops to be killed because of his hate for gays and that most soldiers are gay) which is my understanding of thier basis of going to soldiers funerals, but why Ford's?