Protester arrested for letting son stomp flag
Woman who demonstrates at soldiers’ funerals vows to challenge in court

Updated: 5:50 p.m. PT June 6, 2007
OMAHA, Neb. - A member of the Kansas group that has drawn criticism for protesting at soldiers’ funerals has been arrested for letting her 10-year-old son stomp on a U.S. flag during a demonstration.
She promised Wednesday to challenge the state’s flag desecration law in court.
Shirley Phelps-Roper, 49,
will be charged with flag mutilation, disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov said Wednesday.
Phelps-Roper, a member of the Westboro Baptist Church,
acknowledged that she allowed her son Jonah to stand on the flag Tuesday — something she says is protected by the U.S. Constitution.