Rockland Legislator Takes Stand Against Funeral Protestors
NEW CITY, NY (WCBS 880) - Ed Day, a Rockland County legislator with two sons in the army, is pushing a bill that would set up buffers between those who want to protest military funerals and the families of the fallen soldiers.
WCBS 880's Catherine Cioffi with Ed Day
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At issue is a balance between the right to free speech and the rights of fallen soldiers and their families.
"We have to abide with the decision of the Supreme Court, as much as I don't agree with it," Day told WCBS 880 reporter Catherine Cioffi. "People have their rights, but I think that the actions of the Westboro Church and people like that are well overstepping the bounds of decency."
Day says the bill would apply to funerals being conducted on county property and possibly to all funerals in the county.
"I fully understand that people have rights to demonstrate and for free speech, but there is a point where your rights end up stamping over the rights of others," says Day.
Day says the right to bury your loved one should be sacrosanct.
The Westboro Baptist Church often protests at military funerals and houses of worship, holding signs that, among other things, blame homosexuality for dead soldiers and thank G-d for dead soldiers.
