Standing against hate

[iandhr]

At a University of Vermont student back at school I am very impressed by the way the community of Burlington, Vermont responds to hate. Tomorrow for those who do not know Vermont’s marriage equity law takes effect tomorrow.

Because of this members of the Westboro Baptist church will be in Vermont tomorrow. These are people who go to the funerals of soldiers killed in action and celebrate their deaths. The say that the death of our soldiers is god’s punishment for America’s tolerance of homosexuality. They also have a website called godhatesf###. Com. Since April Jewish institutions have also been a target of their hate.

They will first have demonstrations in the capital of Montpelier and then they will come to Burlington and they will have demonstrations in front of Hillel at UVM Chabad and Ohavi Zedek Synagogue.

In response to this hatred descending upon us the people of Burlington sprung in to action. Instead of organizing a counter protest tomorrow (though there will be some) members of this community of all faiths, gays, straights met at the First Congregational Church tonight for a meeting called “Solidarity in the Face of Hate Speech” Speakers included Rev. Robert Lee the minster from FCC, Wanda Heading-Grant the assistant Provost at UVM and Rabbi Joshua Chasan of Ohavi Zedek Synagogue and others. A refugee from the Congo sung “These Green Mountains” which I believe is the state song. Also Rev. Lee read letters from churches in Norwich and Bennington that said that there thought are prayers were which us and that they will be with us in sprit.

As a Jew this community standing against hate moved me and means a lot. I am sure the members of the LGBT community felt the same way but I do not want to speak to them. I am a New Yorker and always will be. Tonight I am a proud Vermonter. GOD BLESS VERMONT