TV Coverage of Today's Hate Group Stop In Columbus On Their Way To The US Supreme Court

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COLUMBUS, Ohio --

A small group of protestors from the Westboro Baptist Church surrounded by dozens of Columbus and OSU Police, staked out a corner of 11TH ave and High street on OSU's campus. The church group stopped in Dayton and Columbus, on what they dubbed the I 70 Godsmack Tour, on their way to protest a US Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday.

Hundreds of counter-protestors were there to greet the church members and many of them brought their own unique signs.

"I don't believe in hate I feel like making a mockery of hate," said a woman with a Boba Fett Star Wars helmet.

"We threw a party for them in contrast to all their hate," said Bianca Labarbera.

"I believe if you are spouting hate speech you are inciting violence or riot," said Tom Morgan with Get Equal. Morgan was also one of the organizers of the Facebook event called LoveBomb, which alerted people about the church member's stop. "we didn't want these people coming to our town and spreading their hate and filth, so we threw a little party to welcome them, even though they are known for their anti-gay sentiments." said Morgan.

In 2006, the father of a Marine who was killed in Iraq won a five million dollar verdict against Fred Phelps and his church, after they disrupted the Marine's funeral.

The verdict was thrown out on appeal and the court ordered the father to pay Phelp's legal fees, which totaled over 16 thousand dollars. The Supreme Court has agreed to review the Appeals Court's decision.

"The constitution protects all kinds of religious or political speech even that which is extraordinarily offensive," said Professor Emeritus David Goldberger, with OSU's College of Law. "As offensive as this groups activities are, it may change our freedom of speech," said Goldberger. "It could have a spill over affect if they lose on speech that we would not be happy to see restricted."

According to Professor Goldberger, not all speech is protected, if it is patently false, if represented as true, that is not protected speech that is libel.

If it is fighting words, such as a face to face confrontation that speech is also not protected.

The LoveBomb party was a fundraiser said, Evonne Segall. "All the money raised was donated to the Columbus Aids Task Force in the name of Fred Phelps," said Segall. According to their Facebook event page, more than 1800 people RSVP'd.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — They travel from town to town, preaching what they call a gospel of truth, and on Monday members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church brought their message to the campus of Ohio State.

Though usually far outnumbered by counter-protestors, the group has made headlines across the country, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.

"They had signs saying 'Thank God for Aids,' and 'Thank God for dead soldiers,'" said counter-protestor Thom Tyznik. "I just believe what they do is inherently evil."

Led by Kansas Pastor Fred Phelps, church members protest outside the funerals of American service members killed in action.

While no one questions their right to free speech, many who showed up to protest against the group questioned their methods.

"When it comes to a private funeral where individuals are mourning the loss of someone they care about, then maybe you shouldn't be permitted," said counter-protestor James Ferguson. "Maybe that's where the line is between free speech and actual harassing."

That line is what the Supreme Court is set to define as it convenes this week, McEntyre reported.

The family of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, killed in Iraq in 2006 at the age of 20, sued Phelps for invasion of privacy after he picketed Snyder's funeral.

Retired Ohio State law professor David Goldberger said the question before the court is where free speech conflicts with a right to privacy.

"If they had held their protest in a public park, and not in relation to a funeral, and did not direct it at the family in particular, then this case would not be in the U.S. Supreme Court," Goldberger said. "We ought to be careful, if Phelps loses, about celebrating, because of its potential to be a basis to restrict speech later on down the road."

Phelps's group stopped in Dayton and Columbus on the way to Washington, D.C.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case on Wednesday, but a ruling is not expected for several months.