the buzz log

By any measure, a soldier's funeral is a risky venue for a protest. But to Kansas' Westboro Baptist Church, last rites are a venue to protest what its members perceive as America's permissive attitudes towards homosexuality.

This week, a jury awarded the father of a dead Marine $10.9 million, agreeing the protest—which included touting signs saying "Thank God for dead soldiers"—constituted an invasion of privacy and severe emotional distress. After the verdict, searches on the church jumped 6,000%. People also looked up their Web site, founder Fred Phelps, and his daughter and adherent Shirley Phelps-Roger.

The notorious Topeka church has landed on the Buzz radar before. Most notorious for picketing Wyoming gay student Matthew Shepard's 1998 funeral, they garnered searches last October after threatening to picket the funerals of the Amish girls killed in a spree shooting, then agreeing to appear on a nationally syndicated radio show instead. Queries have also followed "patriot guard riders," a motorcycle group that initially formed to escort and shield mourners against the church.

Despite the verdict, the outraged buzz likely won't die down. The Phelps family have said they will appeal and plan more protests. With 40 states now keeping tabs on this hate group, we'll see if their tactics—and their finances—can withstand the scrutiny.