Westboro Baptist Church picketing near me

[City of Mills]

My post in late breaking news didn't get too far, here's the link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1471047&mesg_id=1471047

Basically, these freaks are protesting an Ellen Degeneres essay written by a local 12 year old girl, because the essay was selected as first place in a contest. Unreal. The wackos will undoubtedly be outnumbered, but i'd like to hear anyone's ideas as to dealing with them.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[ewagner]

1. Tell them about the 11th Commandment

THOU SHALT MIND THINE OWN BUSINESS

[Dr.Phool]

2. Napalm? Cluster bombs? Insect Repellant!

[City of Mills]

4. Insect Repellant - I like that idea!

:nuke:

[atommom]

3. My suggestion is no fun.

Ignore them. They love attention. They live for media coverage. They relish conflict. They are excited and energized by any kind of negative feedback.

Of course, I understand if the community feels a counter-protest is necessary ... but remember that it's for the sake of the community itself. These people will never change their minds.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Stupid flock of sheeple

[smoogatz]

6. Unless you can fling a fairly accurate lightning bolt

your best bet is to ignore them. They came out to Provincetown once while I was there and were thoroughly ignored--people were just too busy living their lives and having a good time to bother getting upset by them. As far as I know, they haven't been back.

[yella_dawg]

14. Don't get me wrong. I love P-Town.

But I really wouldn't want to be an anti-gay protester there. One of the big issues is there's only one way out of town. (Well, two if you can swim like hell.)

[smoogatz]

21. The Westboro Baptists aren't known for their high IQs

Lucky for them the great majority of P-town residents chose to follow Jesus' example and eschew violence.

[FreedomAngel82]

29. Good

I'm glad for that. That's what we should do all these people. Just ignore them when they're doing stupid shit like that. Disgusting. Are they protesting at the school? If I was the principle I'd tell them to go away because they're disrupting the education process and to deal with it. If they don't like the report too fucking bad because that girl has the right to write whatever she wants.

[MuseRider]

7. I second atommoms post

#3 I think. Ignore them. They just want attention. They will not go away but they will not accomplish their goal of stirring up people.

[Habibi]

8. Get out there with 'em!

And hold up a big sign that says "Gods Hates Dumbasses."

[KamaAina]

9. Ever see their signs that say "Fag Church"?

one was once displayed in front of the oldest Christian church on O'ahu (United Church of Christ)!

How about a counter-demo sign reading "Fag Protest"? I did once hear that the good Rev. was spotted on lower Polk St. in SF...

[AntiCoup2K4]

10. Actually, I think you should join their protest with a sign that says.....

..."GOD HATES FUCKING INBRED PSYCHOPATHS"

Just to see if they notice.

[Toots]

25. How about just "God Hates"

Or God is Hateful or God Teaches Hatred. It would be nice if they had to back up a hateful God...I was brought up to believe "God is Love" They believe "God is Hate" Let's let America decide which is best for our "Christian Nation"

[Telly Savalas]

27. They've seen worse and have been called worse.

Eliciting reactions like that is why they do what they do. It's like that Star Trek episode with the creature that feeds on hate. Ignore them and you'll starve them.

In some instances it might be useful to have a counterprotest to show that the GLBT community has support, but keeping it positive is essential. If you get angry, they've won.

[melnjones]

11. Protest this Phelps dude with signs like these:

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Matthew 7:1

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... Matthew 5:44 (You could add something like, we're praying for you Mr. Phelps. That would be good times.)

I wish I wasn't so far away...I'd come join you if I could.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Write your own essay and send it to them??

[Coloradan4Truth]

13. I read this great idea for dealing with Phelps on DU some months ago

Set up a charity drive where people pledge to donate money to go to a local gay group (perhaps the High School's Gay/Straight alliance if they have one, or PFLAG - parents and friends of lesbians and gays) for every hour that Phelps protests. That way, Phelps is actually supporting diversity and gays and lesbians by being there . That will really get his goat... he can't win.

Also, other than this, I agree about ignoring them.

[melnjones]

19. THAT'S AWESOME!!!

what a great idea, i love it.

[Beelzebud]

15. Throw some urine on them.

I know it's tasteless, disgusting, and immoral.

But so are they. :P

[demgurl]

16. You know, I am not gay......

but I support someone's right to be gay or enter contest or even marry whoever they want.

A long time ago I was in the movie theater when 'Philadelphia' came out. It is not like they did not advertise what the f'n movie was about. The lady behind me (maybe 40 or so) kept saying 'ewww' out loud. Well I had to stop myself from turning around and trying to plant one right on her lips. All I could think was how rude she was being.

People always amaze me. The broadway play 'Rent' came through a couple of years ago. It was well advertised what the play is about and yet about a 1/4 of the audience left the auditorium before the play was hardly started! Yeah, cause they would have gotten AIDS if they had stayed!

I would love to say ignore them but wouldn't it be great to tbe able to tell them Ellen was coming there for the demonstration and that you hear homosexuality is contagious? You could tell them you were just trying to warn them so they would not catch it. They would scatter to the hills.

[gumby]

17. That's child abuse, plain and simple.

A group of profane wackos descending on a 12 year is child abuse.

Child abuse is how these deviants treat their own children. That's how they grow up to be insaniacs like their parents.

edit: I would take videos and/or photos to post. Their signs and the signs they make their children (child abuse) carry are indictments in themselves.

[the arkansas liberal]

18. My reply to your original post...

Phelps is a Lunatic -- Alert the Media...


I ran into this group in 1998 at the Tulsa,OK Gay Pride picnic at a public park. The cops wisely had a barricade between us and the Phelps crew. I talked with a coupe of the members. Hate to say it, they were fairly homely and way overweight. I told 'em if they were really following Bible they would know about Fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians) and would practice self-control (temperance). They cursed at me and spewed such vitriol I was taken aback. Then the bitchy queen in me rose up and I told them it takes a real man to get it up the ass, or something like that. My friends drug me away at that point. Not too proud of myself but still...

Most of his core "congregation" are actually family members, or at least that's the way it used to be. No one takes him seriously, and I think he was put on Earth to test our patience with the First Amendment. If this cancer is not allowed to protest, then none of us will be able to, either. His website, btw, is called godhatesfags.com. Gives you an idea of this "minister's" agenda. Don't know if it is still active as I will never hit that one up, I can tell you.

[atommom]

22. It's still active, but I don't have the stomach to go there!

And you're right, they are inconceivably nasty when challenged. I've seen them yell obscenities at innocent passersby, too. As hard as it is, I still think that ignoring them is the best bet.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi the arkansas liberal!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[lies and propaganda]

20. May Fred Phelps burn the hottest in his precious hell.

n/T

[xchrom]

24. worth time in jail to take a baseball bat to them.

[Zynx]

26. Bear spray fogger

[Ian David]

28. see related threads

Latest Breaking News forum
Anti-gay group plans picket ("God Hates Fags" attacks Ellen essay)
Topic started by sonicx on May-13-05 05:00 PM (28 replies)
Last modified by IanDB1 on May-14-05 03:35 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1470630


General Discussion forum
Westboro Baptist Church picketing near me
Topic started by ByTheRiver on May-13-05 09:21 PM (27 replies)
Last modified by Telly Savalas on May-14-05 12:15 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3654296


Massachusetts forum
Lucky us! Fred Phelps is coming to Massachusetts June 5th + 6th
Topic started by IanDB1 on May-14-05 03:40 PM (0 replies)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=158&topic_id=4583


Call to action in Lowell
Topic started by Redstone on May-13-05 05:52 PM (3 replies)
Last modified by dddem on May-14-05 06:44 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=158&topic_id=4573

John Kerry Group forum
Hate-spewing wingnut Phelps coming to my area
Topic started by rox63 on May-13-05 11:25 PM (7 replies)
Last modified by elshiva on May-14-05 01:49 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=273&topic_id=27589

[Ian David]

30. If anyone here wants to discuss what to do about this, please PM me...

This includes people who are not from Massachusetts.

I have a plan.... Hmmmmmmm....