The Westboro Baptist Church demonstrated at the memorial service today of a Camp Pendleton killed this month in Afghanistan, according to North Carolina television station WCTI. The memorial service for 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Nicholas O'Brien took place in Gastonia, North Carolina, where O'Brien grew up. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
The Westboro Baptist Church, which consists primarily of the family of Fred Phelps, has become infamous for protesting military funerals. The "church" believes the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are punishment for the United States' tolerance of homosexuality. The Supreme Court recently ruled Westboro Baptist has the constitutional right to its protests.
The Los Angeles Times reports Westboro Baptist also has plans to picket the funeral of Camp Pendleton Marine Lance Cpl. Sean O'Connor on Wednesday. O'Connor was also killed early this month in Afghanistan. His funeral will take place in Douglas, Wyoming.
