Jul 01, 2005 — A radical anti-gay group from Kansas plans to picket churches in Plattsburgh this weekend. The Reverend Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church have targeted Plattsburgh because the city's popular Republican Mayor, Dan Stewart, is an openly gay man. Stewart will host the Mayor's Cup celebration this 4th of July weekend. Phelps is an extremely controversial figure. His organization has begun picketing the funerals of soldiers who die in Iraq. A press release issued by his church says, "Thank God for improvised explosive devices killing Americans in strange lands." According to Phelps, the bloodshed in Iraq and Afghanistan are God's retribution for America's tolerance of gays. Brian Mann will be covering the story this weekend. He spoke with Martha Foley.