Creve Coeur joins cities with protest restrictions

CREVE COEUR, Mo. (AP) - Another St. Louis-area town is placing restrictions on funeral and burial protests by groups such as Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Creve Coeur City Council on Monday unanimously passed a measure banning picketing within 300 feet of a space where a funeral or burial service is taking place. The ban is in place during the service, along with one hour before and after.

Clayton passed similar legislation in December. Both laws mirror a Manchester ordinance that has been upheld by a federal appeals court.

Westboro is known for anti-gay protests that often occur at military funerals.