JonScribe is probably right about how best to honor the memory of the Kings.
I still have a wistful longing for the scenario described by Sampiro. I’d scrape up some money for the defense fund, too.
At this point, I’d be surprised if Phelps doesn’t show up and at Jacob Robida’s funeral to protest the demographics of his murder victims vs those of his attempted murder victims.
I’ve said it before: Fred Phelps is a sociopath. And I don’t mean that in the internet-message-board-short-hand-for-asshole sense, I mean he’s genuinely incapable of human emotions other than hate and anger. I do not doubt for one second that Fred would gladly take a human life if he were reasonably assured of getting away with it. Hell, I wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised if they found a pile of corpses stashed under his floor boards tomorrow. The man exsists purely to cause as much pain to other humans as possible. Read about how he treated his own children sometime. Homophobia has nothing to do with how he acts, it’s just a convenient excuse to harrass a class of people who are not fully protected by the law. He doesn’t really hate gays - at least, not any more than he hates everyone else. We’re just a vulnerable, exploitable target.
Obligatory “Addicted To Hate” hyperlink. NOT work safe.
Yeah, I’d say you nailed it here, mangetout. The man’s insane. He let off steam beating the everloving shit out of his wife and kids until the sons grew old enough to kick his ass. All that hate had to go somewhere, so it went right into picketing funerals, restaurants, and anyone and anything else Phelps was pissed off at.
I feel absolutely terrible for the children. The Branch Davidians didn’t have it this bad.
I feel even worse for the families who have to deal with this cretinous mob.
King’s family and the families of the dead servicemen who have to deal with Phred’s clan, that is . . .
Remember that President Bush and Mr. Clinton will be in attendence. Security will be very tight.
I doubt they will show.
It would be so cool to have seen Phelps show up, and have all the presidents (current and ex) team up to kick the life out of him 
Are we in the pit? …Oh gooood !
Fuuuuuuck yoooooooou Homebrew
Why the fuck do you give this guy any attention!!!
Don’t you know that we all think Phelps is a complete idiot by now!!!
Don’t you realize that Phelps has a following you could fit in your bathroom?
Big Fuckin Deal !
I would never have heard of Phelps if it weren’t for the SDMB, and I watch CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS everyday !
No one else fuckin cares.
He’s inconsequential.
He’s a nobody.
A fire in your neighbourhood is bigger fuckin news than Phelps.
Get a life will ya ?
Don’t hold back The Flying Dutchman, tell us how you really feel!
All Things Considered just did a little report on him today and the impact he is having on up to a dozen state legislatures ( which incensed by his picketing of military funerals are thinking of banning demonstrations of all sorts at funerals ).
He’s hitting the big time.
- Tamerlane
As others have said, it has nothing to do with sodomy. But it does have everything to do with gaining attention. Phelps and Co. picket those events which will garner them the most attention.
So he pickets funerals now. Lots of people go to them. Every year hear in Topeka he pickets the local production of “The Nutcracker” simply because a lot of people will see the WBC signs. Famous performers are picketed here for that reason.
On Sunday mornings, when the WBC pickets churches here in Topeka, they don’t picket small congregations on quiet streets, they picket the bigger churches on busy streets. So Sacred Heart Catholic doesn’t get picketed, but Christ the KIng Catholic does. St. Phillip’s Episcopal doesn’t get picketed(that I have heard), but Grace Catherdral(where I attend) does.
I’ve seen these people around town at least two or three times a week for the last fourteen years, and believe me, it’s all about attention. Things get quiet, they ratchet it up a notch.
OOOH!
I’m hoping Phred does something stupid in front of the President’s security.
He’ll get lots of attention, then. 
One hand grenade.
Did anyone else hear a fart?
I seem to remember from what I read here that Fred’s “congregation” consists solely of family members,his wife, his children and their families and there aren’t many of them but almost all of the adults are lawyers.
That said, I find myself wondering what’s going to happen when Fred dies. He can’t live forever and IIRC he’s not young.
Will the sons and daughters of this hate monger continue in his footsteps once they are no longer under his influence?
And why do they do it? Is the whole family insane or does he just have some warped kind of control over them?
The whole thing just makes me wonder how people can end up like that.
There are a few non-related (non-married?) members in Fred’s congregation. I believe it is widely thought that Fred’s son will take the reins once Fred expires, I’m betting his daughter will fight to take control though.
Cool! A cage death match for control! “Two Phelps enter. One Phelps leaves.”
I can hear Malcolm McDowell now: “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, my droogies!”
Daniel
I can’t bring myself to read his website (and I’m at work) did I hear correctly on NPR that he want’s the death penalty for Sodomy?
On thing I did like was hearing about the anti-fred gang. I didn’t get their name but they are a bunch of bikers, mostly ex-vets that plant themselves between Fred and his loonies and the funerals.
That’s what I heard.