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Snyder V. Phelps

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Snyder v. Phelps

Snyder v. Phelps Certainly the case of Snyder v. Phelps is one in which the Supreme Court must tread lightly. The decision is crucial to the preservation of an individual’s right to peace of mind, however, when first amendment rights stand to be updated, the decision requires remarkable foresight and caution. The arguments in Case 09-751, Snyder v. Phelps frequently reference the precedent case of Hustler v. Falwell. The supreme court overturned the appellate court decision, and ruled in favor of upholding Hustler Magazine’s right to make statements (although outrageous and malign) against an established public figure; Falwell. Mr. Summers, the petitioner in Snyder v. Phelps, asserts that private and public figures must be treated differently. In the case of Snyder v. Phelps, the deliberate defamation of the deceased 20 year old marine caused significant emotional distress to the father, Albert Snyder. Furthermore, the petitioner stresses that the emotional distress brought on by Phelps was prolific, egregious, and done with malicious intent. The backbone of the petitioner’s argument is that in contrast to the protection of free speech against public figures, upheld in Hustler v. Falwell, private figures such as Albert Snyder should be protected against cruel publications and protests that cause emotional distress. Matthew Snyder was a marine, and a catholic, and a young American. The Westboro Baptist Church defamed him, and caused grievance to his family after his passing simply because of who he was. This abhorrence for him, expressed by signs reading “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and “You’re Going to Hell”, should be treated as messages of hate (Snyder v. Phelps, 9). This breed of hatred is no different than that of the KKK toward African Americans or that of Anti-Semites toward Jews, and should be regarded accordingly. The

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