W MI 'human shield' planned vs Westboro

HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - Officials with Westboro Baptist Church said they plan to protest a Holland Marine's funeral on Aug. 11.

They believe the deaths of US soldiers and other acts of violence are God's way of punishing the country for accepting homosexuality.

On Monday President Barack Obama signed a law requiring protesters be at least 300 feet from military funerals, two hours before and after the events. Violators could face fines and up to two years in prison.

A Facebook posting is organizing a counter-protest in West Michigan to create a "human shield" to block protesters from a grieving family this weekend.

Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Price died July 29 during combat in Afghanistan. The 27-year-old was on his sixth deployment in the region. He will be remembered during a ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday at Central Wesleyan Church in Holland.

Westboro Baptist Church wrote in a press release the new law will not stop them from protesting military funerals.

The "human shield" worked in other towns in July, including College Station, Texas and Columbia, Mo.