Westboro announces – via iPhone – it will picket Jobs’ funeral

6 Oct 2011

The tweet by Westboro Baptist Church member Margie J Phelps

Extremist group Westboro Baptist Church revealed plans to protest at the funeral of Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs in a tweet – posted via iPhone.

The tweet by member Margie J Phelps reads, “Westboro will picket his funeral. He had a huge platform; gave God no glory & taught sin. MT @AP: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has died at 56.”

The Westboro Baptist Church is an independent group, which has protested the Jewish community, homosexuality and US soldiers. Funny thing is, it has yet to reveal its reason for protesting at Jobs’ funeral, although another tweet by Phelps may give a hint of the group’s belief: “No peace for man who served self, not God.”

They’ve gained a notorious reputation thanks to their protests at funerals, including those of soldiers who died while fighting in Iraq and the funeral of a man who was beaten to death because he was gay.

The US Supreme Court has upheld their right to protest at these events, saying the members’ free speech rights cannot be restricted simply because their speech is unpopular or even despicable.

Jobs (56) died in Palo Alto, California, yesterday, after a long battle with various illnesses. While Apple is planning a celebration of Jobs’ life for employees, details about his funeral have yet to be announced.

Tina Costanza was a journalist and sub-editor at Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com