HARBOR BEACH -- As mourners gather to remember a Mid-Michigan fallen soldier Thursday, the controversial Westboro Baptist Church will be protesting outside.
21-year old Pfc. Brian Backus was killed in battle in Afghanistan on June 18th when insurgents attacked his unit.
He’s from the Harbor Beach area. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the High School Thursday.
However, the controversial Westboro Baptist Church states they plan on preaching their message in a “respectful, lawful proximity to the memorial.”
The church group has received national attention as they travel to soldier funerals, claiming the reason U.S. soldiers are dying in the wars is because America has allowed gays to serve in the military. Their flyer states, “God hates fags.” It also states, “Thank God For IEDs.”
In 2006, the group stated they were going to protest at a Marine's funeral in Mundy Township. Police and law enforcement officials ramped up security in the area, but the group never showed up. Mundy Township sent the church an invoice for the cost of the extra security. It is unclear whether the church ever responded.
Even though the group's website posts that they will be Webb City, Missouri on June 30th... local law enforcement isn't taking any chances. Huron county Sheriff Kelly Hanson says additional measures will be taken to ensure things go smoothly.
You can see their church’s flyer on the Harbor Beach protest by clicking here.
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