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1999:
Hate Crimes Resource Manual

1999:
Murder in Bloomington

2001:
KKK Gathering Place Established

2003:
Osceola & ADL Fight Hate

2003:
Anti-Semite Burns Holocaust Museum

2004:
Criminal Leads Indiana “National Socialist Movement”

2004:
IU Challenges Christian Perspective

2005:
Holocaust Museum Rebuilt

2005:
Racist Arson

2005-2006:
Protesters at Military Funerals

2006:
Military Funeral Protests Banned

 

 

 

2005-2006:  Protesters at Military Funerals

Throughout 2005-2006, members of the Westboro Baptist Church engaged in inflammatory protests at the funerals of military personnel across Indiana, including in the communities of Portage, Martinsville, Kokomo, and Ft. Wayne. The group, a tiny fundamentalist congregation from Topeka, KS, is considered a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Led by Rev. Fred Phelps, the group believes that the deaths of service personnel is a sign that God is punishing the United States for its tolerance of homosexuality. They express their beliefs by singing offensive songs and carrying signs with slogans such as “Thank God for IEDs” (i.e., Improvised Explosive Devices). The Patriot Guard, a group of motorcyclists, also has been attending the funerals and attempting to shield the grieving families from the protesters.

References:
• Lenz, R. (2006, February 20). Bikers drown out funeral protesters. Army Times. Retrieved on May 2, 2006, from http://www.armytimes.com/print.php?f=1-292925-1546852.php
• Nelson, A.J. (2005, August 29). Supporters overshadow protest by radical group. Reporter-Times.com. Retrieved on May 2, 2006, from http://www.reporter-times.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=25929&format=print

 

          
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