Westboro Baptist Church

[michaeldoff]

Next week the Westboro Baptist Church, a hate and protest group based in Kansas, has scheduled to protest outside my school as part of their DC campaign. If you're not familiar with the WBC, they're a group that's known to openly protest homosexuality, government education plans, and picket at funerals. The protesters hold highly offensive signs in an effort to provoke a reaction. They hire their own cameraman, and film the abuse that they receive from the people that they anger. They've been known to then take this material to court and file lawsuits against said individuals, and ultimately receive compensation to fund the ~$200,000 a year they spend traveling around the nation to 'spread the word of God'. Below are a couple of images from various WBC protests:




The school has stated that they encourage students to ignore the protesters, but I know that a number of students are planning to counter protest. In my opinion, I think it would be best to pretend like they're not even there. They don't win if they don't get any reaction whatsoever, but part of me wants to go and join the counter protest to show my support for the gay community. What do you guys recommend doing?

You can read up on the WBC on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church) or their own site (http://www.godhatesfags.com).

[ivyalexandra]

they don't stop there

they even picket military funerals

saying that gay people everywhere are the cause for war...

how redundant and unpatriotic

~^*^~

thankfully with the soon coming end to DADT they'll be up in arms for sure

and should you be, but not limited to the following, a bigot, heteronormative, heterosexist, homophobic and think diversity is a waste of people's time

i am sure that they have a place for you on their picket line^^

~^*^~

though, seriously, they think what they are doing is fine & dandy

well it's not

it's hurting families, a lot of families

and they call the disparagement: Freedom of Speech

IvyA

PS oh and they, whoops i mean "GOD," hates transgendered people, too

[Falconer02]

In my opinion, I think it would be best to pretend like they're not even there. They don't win if they don't get any reaction whatsoever, but part of me wants to go and join the counter protest to show my support for the gay community. What do you guys recommend doing?

Do the world a favor and throw a molotov cocktail in their lil' hate group. I'm sure any cop who knows what they do will look the other way. Heheh. ORRR for a more peaceful approach, here's my specially designed attack methods--

If the counter-protest is big enough, create HUGE signs and grab large american flags so you can cover over their signs. Anything like a peace sign to "I support Proposition 8" to a "I'm with stupid" sign.

Create signs like these to water down their bible verses. http://www.godhatesshrimp.com/downloads.php  (I know we aren't supposed to post links, but considering the OP could fight a hate-group...)

If they start yelling "God hates fags!" and all that garbage, have your group sing patriotic songs. Or whatever songs as long as your group knows the verses.

If they throw hateful words at you, just say "Wow, thank you. How Christian of you." or "God's proud of you for hating people. Nice work."

Anyone with a motorcycle can simply rev their engine to shut them up. Find someone if you can. Just be informed prior to if they can or not.

Look up the history on WBC counter-groups and see if you can contact any of them.

[GoGoKokiGo]

Personally, I would protest them right back. See if you could get your classmates together and organize it. There is no use becoming an unruly mob. But that's me. Stay safe though. And be careful out there.

I was also thinking are they allowed to protest at a school? That's a little weird isn't it?

[michaeldoff]

In my opinion, I think it would be best to pretend like they're not even there. They don't win if they don't get any reaction whatsoever, but part of me wants to go and join the counter protest to show my support for the gay community. What do you guys recommend doing?

Do the world a favor and throw a molotov cocktail in their lil' hate group. I'm sure any cop who knows what they do will look the other way. Heheh. ORRR for a more peaceful approach, here's my specially designed attack methods--

If the counter-protest is big enough, create HUGE signs and grab large american flags so you can cover over their signs.

Create signs like these to water down their bible verses. http://www.godhatesshrimp.com/downloads.php  (I know we aren't supposed to post links, but considering the OP could fight a hate-group...)

If they start yelling "God hates fags!" and all that garbage, have your group sing patriotic songs. Or whatever songs as long as your group knows the verses.

If they throw hateful words at you, just say "Wow, thank you. How Christian of you." or "God's proud of you for hating people. Nice work."

Anyone with a motorcycle can simply rev their engine to shut them up. Find someone if you can.

Look up the history on counter-groups and see if you can contact any of them.

There's already been a large number of signs created. My favorites include:

1. GOD HATES HATE
2. ONLY THE SITH DEAL IN ABSOLUTES
3. U MAD?
4. [citation needed]
6. Promote synergy
7. GOD HATES THE NEW FACEBOOK
8. These fishsticks are too salty

But I'm hesitant on whether it's a good idea to counter protest at all. Wouldn't it be more effective if everyone just completely ignored them? I'm told that the WBC has protested at a number of other highschools and has taken footage of the counter protesting students yelling obscenities, making rude gestures, and being completely unorganized. They then used this footage to back up their message that Obama's education plan is a work of the devil.

[michaeldoff]

Personally, I would protest them right back. See if you could get your classmates together and organize it. There is no use becoming an unruly mob. But that's me. Stay safe though. And be careful out there.

I was also thinking are they allowed to protest at a school? That's a little weird isn't it?

Sorry for the double post, but just clarifying here. The protesters are not allowed on school grounds, but plan to stand on the public sidewalk at the entrance of the school. The school has said that if students step foot on school grounds that day, they are not allowed to leave it until dismissal, but the administration has no control over whether students counter protest if they haven't been on school property yet.

[GoGoKokiGo]

Personally, I would protest them right back. See if you could get your classmates together and organize it. There is no use becoming an unruly mob. But that's me. Stay safe though. And be careful out there.

I was also thinking are they allowed to protest at a school? That's a little weird isn't it?

Sorry for the double post, but just clarifying here. The protesters are not allowed on school grounds, but plan to stand on the public sidewalk at the entrance of the school. The school has said that if students step foot on school grounds that day, they are not allowed to leave it until dismissal, but the administration has no control over whether students counter protest if they haven't been on school property yet.

I think if it's what you believe in you should do it. Love the "U Mad?" sign. And the thing about those people making a video and showing the bad side of everything, it doesn't matter how bad they make you look. It's whether or not anyone is dumb enough to believe it. You know what you could do, find someone with a video camera as well and take it from the students point of view and take it to youtube. Do interviews with the students themselves. And things like that. It can be a huge project.

[michaeldoff]

The thing is, even if it is a video from these nutcases, I don't particularly want to show up on the internet. Being a highschool student, I really don't want to give colleges any reason to recede their offers of acceptance. Colleges don't want disruptive and hateful students, and I'm sure that's what the WBC would turn this into.

[GoGoKokiGo]

The thing is, even if it is a video from these nutcases, I don't particularly want to show up on the internet. Being a highschool student, I really don't want to give colleges any reason to recede their offers of acceptance. Colleges don't want disruptive and hateful students, and I'm sure that's what the WBC would turn this into.

That is a valid point. Well if you still feel the need to do it, when all else fails where a mask. Lol you should dress up as the easter bunny. Not taking the issue lightly I'm just saying that if I was angry and protesting something and I saw someone walking around like the easter bunny when I'm angry at them it would *bleep* me off.

[vlsm23]

I believe they are the same group that came into Bardstown, KY a couple years back to protest a funeral for a baby that died in a house fire.  I forget the details but they basically said the child didn't deserve a funeral and wasn't going to heaven.  A local DJ had them on the radio (an alternative rock radio station) and was asking them where they felt they got the right to judge people and damn their souls.  The representative for the group said they receive their messages from god, so the DJ said "You're telling me you have a direct contact with god, does he give you an actual message, because I want to see that message.  Is he on speed-dial or does he just send an email?"  Sure he was poking fun, but it was the best hour on the radio and best yet, he wasn't censored on the material at all, they let him poke fun at the group because everyone was so sad about the whole family that died in the fire.

On a personal note, it is those type of people who solidify my atheism.  If God were real, would he really let people slander his message in his name in that way?  Maybe he's just gotten lax in his latter years, because Old Testament God would have turned these people to salt or turned them to lepers.  

[Falconer02]

The thing is, even if it is a video from these nutcases, I don't particularly want to show up on the internet. Being a highschool student, I really don't want to give colleges any reason to recede their offers of acceptance. Colleges don't want disruptive and hateful students, and I'm sure that's what the WBC would turn this into.

Dude...it's the WBC. Nobody likes them except themselves. If any college is going to shun you for protesting against a bunch of morons that deserve to be shot dead, it's probably not worth your time being there. Besides...how are they going to get your name? Just be peaceful in your protest...like I said, fight fire with water. If they shout, sing happy songs together LOUDLY! Fight them with numbers too since they usually show up in a small group of 5-20. YOU'D BETTER DO THIS! And take photos and post them! The admins should give you a bonus or something hahaha

If God were real, would he really let people slander his message in his name in that way?  Maybe he's just gotten lax in his latter years, because Old Testament God would have turned these people to salt or turned them to lepers. 

Hahah yeah...but let's not turn this into a religious debate unless someone stands up for WBC.

[FuzzyCottonsocks]

I hope the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster shows up. 

[michaeldoff]

Update: WBC canceled because it was raining pretty hard. We had our counter protest ready to go and everything   

[jaymz462]

A rain-out was probably the best option.

Why did they single out your school?

[maxweb]

Sodom and Gomorrah many people need to change of mind because this is a choice not a biological behavior. I say that homosexual desires are form from experiences. But most average of Americans think that it is biological. If you see the bible that in the last days men with love themselves as they were divine gods.

What do you think?