Five members of an anti-gay Baptist church were heavily outnumbered Thursday in Bethalto by about 1,000 people who shielded the family and mourners during the funeral for U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kenny Corzine.
The five members from the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, shouted about how Jesus hates the United States and sang hymns for 45 minutes. They left 15 minutes before the funeral. The church's members believe the U.S. war dead are God's punishment for tolerance of homosexuality.
The 1,000 lined Moreland Road in Bethalto and countered by singing "The Star Spangled Banner," "America the Beautiful" and Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American." The two groups remained separated and peaceful. There was a heavy police presence.
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