Huntsville, TN (2008-11-07) Three female members of a Topeko, Kansas church that is best known for protesting at the funerals of fallen soldiers remonstrated in Scott County on Friday. The group was in the community to spread their anti-homosexual rhetoric, alleging that four Scott High School cheerleaders that were killed recently in a tragic traffic accident died for the sins of Tennessee.
Three female members of Westboro Baptist Church protested in Scott County on Friday, staying about 30-minutes to air their anti-homosexuality message. The three women, who arrived in a white sedan escorted by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, were met by another 100 law enforcement officers and about 100 counter-protestors, which were largely persons from outside Scott County, including a group of motorcycle riders.
The two factions met on opposite sides of Scott High Drive Friday afternoon in front of the Scott County Justice Center, each briefly exchanging slurs, chanting slogans, and singing altered patriotic songs. Between the two groups was a contingent of officers from the Scott County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. In all, about 60 state officers, including Special Operations Forces from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and 40 local deputies maintained control of the scene.
The demonstration was mostly peaceful; however, at least three persons were reportedly arrested, including a man from Kentucky.
According to the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Floyd Lamar Patty, 49, and Joshua Allen Coats, 26, both of Knoxville and Danny Ray Phillips, 42, of Strunk, KY were arrested. The Sheriff’s Department didn’t disclose the charges against any of the men; however, at least one of the accused was arrested just as the three women were leaving the protest site. The unidentified man reportedly came up to the protestor’s motorcade from behind the concession stand at the Scott County Park. A trooper, who was the rear escort of the three-car motorcade, was observed stopping the man. Later, it was reported the man, said to an Iraqi War veteran, was despondent and was carrying a weapon. He was taken into custody without incident.
On October 24, 2008, four Scott High cheerleaders, a grandmother and an unborn child we killed in a tragic two-vehicle traffic crash on U.S. 27 in Robbins.
The Scott County School System canceled classes on Friday because of the protest.