Woman loses again in (US) flag fight (desecration at the funeral of a National Guardsman)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha Worlad Herald

An attorney for a Kansas woman accused of violating Nebraska’s flag-desecration law has lost the latest round in a fight to invalidate what he believes is an unconstitutional statute.

Omaha attorney Bassel El-Kasaby said Monday that despite the Nebraska Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss his appeal, the legal battle will continue.

Shirley Phelps-Roper was accused in 2007 of letting her then-10-year-old son stand on an American flag at the funeral of a National Guardsman in Bellevue. Authorities also say she wore a flag as a skirt that dragged on the ground.

El-Kasaby originally filed the appeal in March, after a Sarpy County judge denied his request to throw out the charge and three others stemming from the protest.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20091207/NEWS01/712079885

[brendan120678]

1. I hate the Phelps family...

but they do have a right to do what they do - as disgusting as it is.

[KansDem]

2. We simply cannot let people stand on the American flag!

[Omaha Steve]

3. Good One

:-)

[winyanstaz]

5. Send that photo to the courts down there...

or to that lady's attorney.
Although I think it is wrong to step on or use the flag in that way...I will support their right to do so.
If it is not a crime for Bush...why should it be a crime for her?

[TexasProgresive]

6. You'd have a point if that was a flag by law

but it is just a picture of the flag not the flag.

But that is a great image as it shows that B*sh used the flag to promote himself- like the Constitution (only a piece of paper) I guess the flag for him was only a rag.

[Butch350]

7. That's not an American Flag it's a F**KEN rug with a picture of a flag on it.

Jeez Louise...

[Doremus]

14. Is this a picture of a flag?

[notadmblnd]

4. Oh those westboro baptist church people.....

you'd think if there was a god that he would strike them dead.

[SkyDaddy7]

10. Actually I think the Phelps are in line with the god of the Bible...

Maybe I reading the wrong Bible but the Phelps strike me as true followers. There are some pretty sick morals in that Bronze Age Holy Book. That is why I can't help but laugh when I hear people say our morals come from the Bible! What a joke! Our morals are what prevent most so-called Christians from following the Bible as written!

Its hard to believe America led the way to secular governing and now look at where we are! If anyone says "god" on our money is wrong, or posting the 10 Commandments in Government buildings is wrong, or any of the numerous other clear violations of the Constitution when it comes to Christianity they are labeled an angry atheist.

Oh well...

[katkat]

8. context?

Disrespecting someone's beliefs at his funeral when his family is presumably there is enough to toss her in jail, imho. She can protest in some other venue.

And I certainly hope it was her flag she stepped on, not the one belonging to the family.

[TommyO]

9. I abhor, loathe and despise Shirley Phelps-Roper, and the rest of her klan

but Nebraska's flag desecration law is blatantly unconstitutional and needs to be struck down.

[COLGATE4]

11. Flag desecration is constitutionally protected speech

As despicable as the whole Phelps brood is, they (and everyone else) has the right to freely express themselves against their government, Flag burning or flag desecration has been ruled on by the USSCT to be protected speech - her lawyer should appeal to the Supreme Court. The Nebraska statute is facially unconstitutional.

[paulsby]

12. i agree

it really is that simnple.

[David__77]

13. The law is completely unconstitutional.

This has already been done before. Except last time, the flag "desecrator" was on the left, protesting Reagan's war moves at the 1984 GOP convention.