Lejeune commander: Stay away from protesters

Lejeune commander: Stay away from protesters
By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 16, 2008 18:15:45 EST

The commander of Camp Lejeune, N.C., ordered her leathernecks to stay away from an anti-military and anti-gay group that has promised to demonstrate at the base following the death of a pregnant Marine.

The Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church, which frequently pickets the funerals of military members, said it will demonstrate at the base at noon Saturday.

“God hates the U.S. Marines,” the group said in a statement.

Col. Adele Hodges, base commander, told her troops to “leave the area immediately” if they came into contact with the group.

“Do not attempt to engage in any verbal taunting or physical altercation with this group,” Hodges said, in a written message to the Marines. “We believe they want to generate additional publicity by provoking such a confrontation. Do not help them in this effort by engaging in any provocative behavior.”


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/01/marine_westboro_protest_080116/