Iowa Senate News Release
April 17, 2006

 

Senators condemn plans
to disrupt military funeral
for Iowa hero

 

DES MOINES -- Two Iowa State Senators today condemned plans by religious extremists to protest the funeral of Army Specialist Daniel L. Sesker in Ogden on Tuesday.

Sesker was killed  recently in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded near his truck. He would have celebrated his 23rd birthday last Saturday.  Sesker was a police officer in Gowrie before he was deployed to Iraq.

“I’m outraged that this disrespectful, disgraceful road show of hatred is again traveling to Iowa to dishonor one of our fallen soldiers,” said State Senator Daryl Beall of Fort Dodge, co-chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Caucus.  “This incident again demonstrates the need for legislation restricting funeral protestors.”

For nearly a year, members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, have been traveling to funerals of U.S. soldiers to wave placards (including one saying “Thank God for Dead Soldiers"), chant slogans and wave tattered American flags.  The protestors claim that God is killing soldiers to “punish America for condoning homosexuality.”  The same group picketed a memorial service for 12 West Virginia miners who died after a mine blast in January, saying the explosion was God's retaliation for homosexuality.

Both the Iowa House and Senate have approved House File 2365, which will require protestors to remain at least 500 feet away from any funeral service or ceremony at a cemetery and imposes escalating punishments for violations.  Beall sponsored companion legislation in the Senate and Warnstadt sponsored a successful amendment to the final House bill.

“Soldiers in the field have a hard time understanding these senseless stunts,” said State Senator Steve Warnstadt of Sioux City, a Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard.  “All you need to know about the ‘message’ this rabble promotes can be found in the lack of common decency they show to the dead and to grieving family members.”

-end- 

For more information about the planned protest, visit this website: www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/apr2006/20060415_daniel-sesker-funeral.pdf