Gold Star mother from Rockville Centre joins vets, parents and county exec to denounce Supreme Court ruling

Marianna Winchester, a Rockville Centre Gold Star mother who lost her son, 1st Lieutenant Ronald Winchester in Operation Iraqi Freedom, joined Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, other Gold Star parents and local veterans last week to denounce the recent 8-1 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Snyder v. Phelps. The ruling found that no matter how hateful their speech, the First Amendment protects Westboro Baptist Church protestors who have been picketing military funerals. 

Mangano, the parents and veterans vowed to join the Patriot Guard Riders, a national group with more than 300,000 volunteers, to form a barrier or shield with an American flag to keep the protesters from being seen by grieving families.

  “Although I believe in freedom of speech, I find it highly offensive and insensitive that the court would allow protesters to demonstrate at the funerals of those who fought for our nation,” said Mangano. “Those mourning loved ones must be afforded the respect to do so without disturbance, criticism or ridicule.”

  Although the ruling allows the protests to continue, it does not reverse the Nassau County funeral-protest restriction of 300 feet and still permits governments to reasonably regulate the time, place and manner of public speech. Mangano also said that he will introduce legislation to restrict funeral demonstrations to a minimum distance of 1,000 feet in Nassau County and require protesters to obtain a permit to regulate the time, place and manner of demonstrations.

The state Senate also passed a bill that would limit protests at military funerals. Called “The Specialist Thomas Wilwerth Military Dignity Act,” the law is named for an Iraq War veteran who lost his life in combat in 2006. It prohibits protests within 2,500 feet of military services, funerals and processions of deceased service members unless the protest organizers post a bond to the local municipality to defray the increased security costs associated with demonstrations that occur closer.  

      “This bill protects the right of military families to bury their loved ones in peace, while also protecting free speech rights,” said Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos,. [It] would help ensure order, honor and discretion at these emotional events.” The legislation is part of a package of veterans bills that were considered by the Senate on Monday.  It now moves on to the Assembly.