Flag Counter The Political Freakshow • FBI Confirms That Westboro Baptist Church Has Taken Part In Law Enforcement Training Sessions At Quantico Marine Base in Virginia

FBI Confirms That Westboro Baptist Church Has Taken Part In Law Enforcement Training Sessions At Quantico Marine Base in Virginia

Washington (CNN) — A law enforcement official confirms members of the Westboro Baptist Church, known for its controversial practice of picketing military funerals, participated in training for law enforcement officials at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia.

The sessions were discontinued this spring after Tom Browne, assistant director for the FBI, voiced strong opposition to bringing the group to a military facility.

Members of Westboro were “respectful” when they were on the base and did not cause any disruption, according to the official. He adds, “It wasn’t the purpose to give them another outlet to vent their views. It was more academic.”

The story about staff training sessions between the FBI and Westboro Baptist Church members was first reported by NPR News on Wednesday.

Other controversial groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, have taken part in similar training sessions. The purpose, according to the official, is “to expose law enforcement to these groups, see what they are about, and understand their perspective.” In addition, the official says, the groups have a chance to hear law enforcement’s point of view in a classroom setting.

“We are not endorsing these groups at all,” said the official. “The reality is there are groups out there who are making presence known who the police have to encounter.”

“They still have First Amendment protections just like anyone else,” the official added, but police may have to mitigate a situation where there is a potential for violence. The official maintained that understanding who these groups are and what they believe can help law enforcement. “It is an effort to engage in open dialogue in a setting that is more academic, rather than having to do it on a street in a peacekeeping kind of scenario.”

FBI and law enforcement officials participated in three sessions at Quantico between 2008 and spring of 2011. There was a fourth session at a facility in Manassas, Virginia, before a halt was called to Westboro’s involvement.

131 Notes/ Hide

  1. theredladyelebuu reblogged this from riley-ferretboy-konor and added:
    Fuuuuuuuucking hell this is like right next to where I live jfc
  2. demotic-notion reblogged this from riley-ferretboy-konor
  3. riley-ferretboy-konor reblogged this from qrookedqueer
  4. leftistshuffle reblogged this from shortformblog
  5. politiciansoc reblogged this from shortformblog
  6. loversintransition reblogged this from projectqueer
  7. jjarichardson reblogged this from other-stuff
  8. aliceincrohnsland reblogged this from shortformblog and added:
    Read more at http://shortformblog.com/#Qq6eLKSlCXSpzwhj.99
  9. genesjockey reblogged this from reluctantmidwesterner and added:
    Misleading headline. The important point, and what the training was (which was FOR police): “The purpose, according to...
  10. tun-te-maton reblogged this from misandryspice
  11. disninjadom reblogged this from umph
  12. umph reblogged this from randomactsofchaos
  13. reluctantmidwesterner reblogged this from polerin
  14. vouxcroux reblogged this from shortformblog and added:
    WBC still has rights. As long as they don’t break laws. Heck, even if they *do* break laws. They may be distateful but...
  15. backyardgoldmine reblogged this from shortformblog
  16. brittmstar reblogged this from projectqueer
  17. polerin reblogged this from brandnewjones
  18. asksverige reblogged this from projectqueer
  19. brandnewjones reblogged this from shortformblog and added:
    FUCKERY.
  20. ampoch reblogged this from shortformblog
  21. randomactsofchaos reblogged this from other-stuff
  22. misandryspice reblogged this from projectqueer and added:
    Can we talk how terrified I m by this?
  23. ozzylot reblogged this from projectqueer
  24. grumpygus reblogged this from projectqueer
  25. theyalwayswantyoutoproveit reblogged this from shortformblog
  26. copioushuesofgay reblogged this from projectqueer and added:
    wtf
  27. analemma reblogged this from shortformblog