Westboro plans to picket Elizabeth Taylor's funeral
BY RITA SHERROW World Television Editor
Thursday, March 24, 2011
3/24/11 at 11:27 AM
Members of the controversial Westboro Baptist church are planning to picket the funeral of film icon Elizabeth Taylor.
Margie Phelps, daughter of WBC Pastor Fred Phelps, took to Twitter Wednesday to announce that WBC will hold a demonstration at the actress' funeral. No date has been set for the services.
Taylor, 79, died Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure.
Earlier this month, the Topeka, Kan.-based church received a favorable ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court upholding a lower court ruling that its picketing of military funerals is constitutionally protected speech.
The fundamentalist church contends the military is being punished by God for the “nation’s tolerance of homosexuality,” according to a previous Tulsa World article.
The legendary actress and humanitarian was also world famous for her work as an AIDS activist who helped start the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and founded her own Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, raising millions to help fight the disease.
Taylor will most likely be buried in a crypt next to her parents, Francis and Sara Taylor, at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, according to press reports. Her family has asked that contributions be made to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in lieu of flowers. Personal messages can be directed to the actress’ Facebook page at tulsaworld.com/Elizabeth.
Associated Images:
Margie Phelps shouts at onlookers during the Westboro Baptist Church's demonstration in McAlester. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
Flowers and a portrait adorn Elizabeth Taylor's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. REED SAXON/AP Photo
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