The funerals for the victims from Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School could see some unwanted visitors in the form of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC).
The shooting took place in the morning of Friday, Dec. 14, in Newtown, Connecticut, where 18 children died in location, two died at a nearby hospital, and six adult staffers. The gunman, later to be revealed as Adam Lanza, took his own life. In addition to the elementary school shooting, a body has been found at Lanza's home, which has been identified to be his mother, Nancy Lanza.
The WBC has been known to protest at the funerals of members of the military, picketing with signs not comfortable to most eyes.
WBC member Shirley Phelps-Roper stated the group plans to "sing praise to God for the glory of his work in executing his judgment," on Twitter. Her account has since been suspended.
A petition has been created since Dec. 14, requesting the White House to recognize WBC as a hate group.
Created by Grant B, "[WBC] has been recognized as a hate group by organizations, such as The Southern Poverty Law Center, and has repeatedly displayed the actions typical of hate groups. Their actions have been directed at many groups, including homosexuals, military, Jewish people and even other Christians. They pose a threat to the welfare and treatment of others and will not improve without some form of imposed regulation."
Petitions made on the White House website usually needs 25,000 signatures before the Obama administration has to give a response. As of 11 a.m. EST, 181,350 signatures were counted.
A second petition has been created on Change.org by Atticus White to prevent WBC from protesting at Newtown.
"After discovering that certain laws exist that can prevent this event from unfolding, we are seeking your support to help bring the-somehow-needed attention to put a fence between the WBC and the affected community," stated White on the petition form. "Normally these events are denied interference because they involve military protests -- these are usually the funerals targetted by the WBC. Since there is no political or military connection in this tragedy, we need to make sure they stay in the clear from these insensitive protests. We have the opportunity to do something good for this community, is there any more to be said?"
The Change.org petition has registered over 11,300 signatures, and needs about 3,600 more for its goal.
In 2011, WBC did win a Supreme Court ruling stating they have a right to picket at funerals due to the First Amendment. President Obama, however, signed that the protests must take place 300 feet away from military funerals under the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.
No date has been set yet as to when WBC will arrive to Newtown as funeral services are already underway since Monday.
For the names of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook shooting, click here.