Counter-protest against Westboro Baptist Church
I know I'm extra posty today, but I just wanted to also spread awareness about this event on Sunday.
From the Facebook event page:
Westboro Baptist Church plans to picket a play about Matthew Shepard, who was killed for being gay. Westboro Baptist first attracted national attention in 1998 when members picketed the same persons funeral
From their website:
http://www.godhatesfags.com/schedule.html
We will meet at the location at 1:00pm to gather. The Act 3 Playhouse is located behind Trader Joe's in Sandy Springs Plaza.
...
Please come out to help us Counter-Protest the Westboro Baptist Church that intends to picket the play about Matthew Shepard! Regardless of what your beliefs are, I truly believe that we should be able to comprehend right from wrong, and murdering someone for who they are, is definitely wrong. More so, picketing soldiers funerals and children’s funerals have to be the most despicable thing I can imagine. I do not understand how a person can think that is okay, regardless of what religion you worship. I am not asking for 1,000,000 people to be there, but I would like at least 100. Enough to make a statement that Georgia is not okay with this type of behavior and that Georgia does not stand behind these types of actions. It is their right as Americans to gather peacefully if they decide to, and it is our choice as Americans to counter-protest!
Please come prepared with a sign already made. Feel free to make that sign say whatever it is you want. But please keep in mind that this has to stay a “peaceful protest” regardless of how you truly feel about them. Please spread this to all of your friends and anyone you think may be supportive!
A little about Matthew Shepard (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard):
Matthew Wayne Shepard (December 1, 1976 - October 12, 1998) was a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming who was tortured and murdered near Laramie, Wyoming, in October 1998. He was attacked on the night of October 6-7, and died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, on October 12 from severe head injuries.
During the trial, witnesses stated that Shepard was targeted because he was homosexual. Shepard's murder brought national and international attention to the issue of hate crime legislation at the state and federal levels.[1]
Information about Westboro Baptist Church:
The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is an independent Baptist church known for its stance against homosexuality[1] and its protest activities, which include picketing funerals and desecrating the American flag.[2] The church is widely described as a hate group[3] and is monitored as such by the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center. It is headed by Fred Phelps and consists mostly of members of his large family;[4] in 2007, it had 71 members.[5] Located in a residential neighborhood on the west side of Topeka about three miles west of the Kansas State Capitol at 3701 West 12th Street, Topeka, Kansas, United States, its first public service was held on the afternoon of Sunday, November 27, 1955.[6]
The church has been actively involved in the anti gay movement since at least 1991 when it sought a crackdown on homosexual activity at Gage Park about a mile northwest of the church.[7]
The WBC is not affiliated with any known Baptist conventions or associations. The church describes itself as following Primitive Baptist and Calvinist principles,[8] though mainstream Primitive Baptists reject the WBC and Phelps.[9]See More
Please come out and help us spread a message of peace and love to counter their hatred!
From the Facebook event page:
Westboro Baptist Church plans to picket a play about Matthew Shepard, who was killed for being gay. Westboro Baptist first attracted national attention in 1998 when members picketed the same persons funeral
From their website:
http://www.godhatesfags.com/schedule.html
We will meet at the location at 1:00pm to gather. The Act 3 Playhouse is located behind Trader Joe's in Sandy Springs Plaza.
...
Please come out to help us Counter-Protest the Westboro Baptist Church that intends to picket the play about Matthew Shepard! Regardless of what your beliefs are, I truly believe that we should be able to comprehend right from wrong, and murdering someone for who they are, is definitely wrong. More so, picketing soldiers funerals and children’s funerals have to be the most despicable thing I can imagine. I do not understand how a person can think that is okay, regardless of what religion you worship. I am not asking for 1,000,000 people to be there, but I would like at least 100. Enough to make a statement that Georgia is not okay with this type of behavior and that Georgia does not stand behind these types of actions. It is their right as Americans to gather peacefully if they decide to, and it is our choice as Americans to counter-protest!
Please come prepared with a sign already made. Feel free to make that sign say whatever it is you want. But please keep in mind that this has to stay a “peaceful protest” regardless of how you truly feel about them. Please spread this to all of your friends and anyone you think may be supportive!
A little about Matthew Shepard (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard):
Matthew Wayne Shepard (December 1, 1976 - October 12, 1998) was a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming who was tortured and murdered near Laramie, Wyoming, in October 1998. He was attacked on the night of October 6-7, and died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, on October 12 from severe head injuries.
During the trial, witnesses stated that Shepard was targeted because he was homosexual. Shepard's murder brought national and international attention to the issue of hate crime legislation at the state and federal levels.[1]
Information about Westboro Baptist Church:
The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is an independent Baptist church known for its stance against homosexuality[1] and its protest activities, which include picketing funerals and desecrating the American flag.[2] The church is widely described as a hate group[3] and is monitored as such by the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center. It is headed by Fred Phelps and consists mostly of members of his large family;[4] in 2007, it had 71 members.[5] Located in a residential neighborhood on the west side of Topeka about three miles west of the Kansas State Capitol at 3701 West 12th Street, Topeka, Kansas, United States, its first public service was held on the afternoon of Sunday, November 27, 1955.[6]
The church has been actively involved in the anti gay movement since at least 1991 when it sought a crackdown on homosexual activity at Gage Park about a mile northwest of the church.[7]
The WBC is not affiliated with any known Baptist conventions or associations. The church describes itself as following Primitive Baptist and Calvinist principles,[8] though mainstream Primitive Baptists reject the WBC and Phelps.[9]See More
Please come out and help us spread a message of peace and love to counter their hatred!