Legislature passes funeral demonstration bill

05/01/2006

Associated Press
May 1, 2006

A bill intended to stop protesters from disrupting funerals is on its way to the desk of Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

The House and Senate on Monday approved the measure with little dissent, racking up only two no votes in the House and one in the Senate.

The bill worked out by House-Senate negotiators would require demonstrators to stay back at least 500 feet from funerals and graveside ceremonies. It also bans protests at the homes of surviving family members - adopting a broad definition that includes unmarried partners.

Violators would face gross misdemeanor charges and might have to pay damages to the deceased’s family members.

Legislators pushed the bill after anti-gay protesters disrupted a soldier’s funeral in February in Anoka. Members of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., have targeted soldier funerals to draw attention to their belief that U.S. military deaths are divine retribution for the country’s tolerance of gay people.

Rep. Mike Jaros, DFL-Duluth, voted against the bill, saying it was unconstitutional.

“Even though I hate what these people are doing, I think they have a right to express themselves,” Jaros said.

Pawlenty has previously indicated he would support the bill, and was among those who vocally criticized the protesters at the Anoka funeral.