Mother of Fallen Iowa City Soldier Starts Petition Against the U.S. Supreme Court

A mother of a fallen U.S. soldier said she wants the Supreme Court to reconsider their ruling that will continue to allow protests outside of military funerals.

Patty Sourivong said she is launching a campaign to collect signatures from others who, like her, don't support the ruling.

“Everyone who signs it is a voice for those soldiers,” she said.

The ruling was in favor of members of the Westboro Baptist Church, who have protested hundreds of military funerals nationally, holding signs with messages like “God Hates Fags” and ”You're Going to Hell.”

Sourivong's son, Spc. Kampha Sourivong, an Iowa City West High School graduate, was killed by enemy fire while serving in Iraq in 2006.  Members of the church traveled from Kansas to picket at his funeral.

“They're just plain heartless,” she said.  “Who goes to a service or a grave site to picket somebody?”

Sourivong said she knows that persuading the Supreme Court to reconsider any ruling is a long shot.  But that doesn't mean she's not willing to give it a try.

“I'm hoping that all the soldiers that passed for our freedom will know that I tried,” said Sourivong.

As of Wednesday night, Sourivong had filled-up two full pages.  Each individual signature she received at a different doorstep of a different house in Iowa City.  She acknowledged that her undertaking of the project is an expression of her own free speech, which is what the Supreme Court said Westboro is also expressing, but Sourivong said America needs to draw a line.

“It sickens me to know that this is allowed to go on,” she said.

The plan calls for Sourivong to ship the signatures to Washington when she reaches a number that “feels right.”  For now she simply plans to keep collecting them as a sign of love to her son, and all other veterans.

“I just hope people figure out who I am when I come to their door,” she said.  “Because I am going to be at it all spring long.”