Katrina Styx reports in Hundreds at HHS counter-protest Westboro message:
On the sidewalks along high school grounds, hundreds of people lined up Sunday afternoon with signs and voices to send a message: Hastings and Minnesota do not tolerate hate. . . .
. . .Wendy Leigh of Impact-Twin Cities was one of the organizers of the counter-protest. A national and global activist, Leigh and others sent out more than 3,500 invitations though Facebook to people, asking them to stand up against WBC. A couple hundred people confirmed their attendance, she said.
One of the counter-protesters had seen a WBC van in Hastings Saturday, Leigh said. It was described as a van with Kansas plates and phrases of WBCs message written on the sides. WBCs protest was scheduled from 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. By 2 p.m. there still had been no sign of the organization at the high school.
Not surprising. The facebook group notes that no one from the Kansas group showed up, and that those supporting the students had a great time.
Visit the Post Gazette to see a photo of Minnesota Nice in action.
In Wisconsin, WTAQ reports that the haters were also a no-show at a performance of the Larimie Project at an area high school. According to Controversial Church Doesn't Protest at Neenah High School:
Westboro Baptist officials were supposed to appear at 6:15 p.m. before the 7 p.m. performance. They didn't show.
So instead Neenah High got a demonstration they weren't expecting. The only protest was that of people in support of the play.
“If the Phelps family is coming here to preach that message to our community, I want to let them know that they're not welcome,” Tyler Baeten told FOX 11.
Tyler Baeten rallied some people to start a protest against the protesters.
“I have a bunch of friends in the play tonight who were concerned that these people were gonna come and ruin it,” said Glenn Anderson, a former Neenah High student.
“I'm really astounded that so many people came,” said Baeten.
It's not know why the group from Westboro didn't show up. School officials say they didn't receive any other complaints about the play.
Also not surprising.
Photo: Publicity shot from the HHS production of the Laramie Project.
They don't go where there's been too much advance warning. Their whole schtick is to startle people, then anger them enough to perhaps attempt to throw a punch and justify a lawsuit; if their targets are hip to this, then they don't bother.
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Feb 14, 2011 at 05:07 PM
i love that the community is coming out in droves to support their neighbors. at that point, it does not matter if westboro shows or not. strange times.
Posted by: sherry | Feb 14, 2011 at 06:52 PM