Anti-gay Church Set to Protest at Northwestern High School
Seven members of Westboro Baptist Church will protest outside of the high school on March 1.
Photos
By David Saleh Rauf and Alexandra Wilding, Capital News Service
A Kansas church known for its vehement anti-homosexual stance and for picketing the funerals of fallen soldiers is targeting Northwestern High School for a protest next week.
A small cohort from the Westboro Baptist Church is planning to demonstrate outside Northwestern on Tuesday to voice objections over what it describes as a "pervert-run" school.
The church did not cite a specific issue with Northwestern but said teachers across the country have "broken the moral compass of this generation."
"These students are sitting in these high schools and actively together are rebelling against God and his commandments," said Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokeswoman and daughter of the church's founder. "It's the same everywhere. You seen one, you seen them all."
Prince George's County Schools Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. defended the school, saying the district does not support the planned demonstration.
"Our school district ... is committed to supporting all of the students in our diverse population," Hite said in a statement.
Prince George's County School Board member Rosalind Johnson had stronger words for the church.
"I am appalled," she said. "I can't imagine someone claiming to be a member of a Christian church and truly perverting the word of God."
The planned picket in Hyattsville comes as the U.S. Supreme Court returns from its winter recess. The Topeka, Kan.-based church is at the center of a Supreme Court case that stems from a protest in which church members picketed the funeral of a slain Marine from Carroll County. The father of the Marine sued, but a federal appeals court ruled church members were protected by the First Amendment.
The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in October and will decide if the First Amendment protects protesters at funerals from liability for intentionally inflicting emotional distress on the family of the deceased.
Church members frequently travel across the country to protest gay rights and the Jewish faith. The protests can ignite strong emotions, as church members generally scream slurs at passers-by and display signs with controversial slogans like "God Hates America" and "God Hates F--s."
About seven church members are expected to picket Tuesday across the street from the entrance of the school's main parking lot, Phelps-Roper said. About five protesters from Westboro demonstrated in November 2010 near Woodbridge Senior High School in Woodbridge, Va., where roughly 200 counter-protesters staged their own demonstration.
In anticipation of the protest next week, Hyattsville Police are planning to beef up security around the school and are developing a contingency plan "in case things go bad," said Sgt. Chris Purvis.
The church is planning a separate protest in Washington Tuesday morning. Phelps-Roper said the church chose Northwestern, a school of roughly 2,500 students that claims Muppets creator Jim Henson as an alumnus, because it is in the general area, which she said is densely populated with military families.
In a news release, however, the church described Northwestern as a "F-- infested, pervert-run" school.
The church was founded by Fred Phelps, who ran a street ministry in the 1950s that crusaded against people making out in public, said Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups and has followed the church for years.
Phelps first drew national attention in 1998 when he picketed the funeral of slain University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, who was targeted because he was gay.
Since then, Phelps has used funerals as his "signature protest," Potok said.
"This is a guy who will do anything to get publicity," he said.
Fran Bilotta
9:20 am on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
We can't just not do nothing!! We have to fight back...I support military families and their sacrifices to us and our county and we have wonderful, decent neighbors who happen to be gay and I saupport them in every way!!! We have to stand up and fight back for our neighbors, military families and decency!!!
Jim Groves
9:57 am on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I'd love to just ignore them but the problem is that the media will be there (which is what these people want). So, I suggest that we stand with them but hold signs in support so that we drown them out. The signs can be of support for the LGBT community or something like "I like cheese" and "These people dress poorly", whatever it takes to block their signs and make them insignificant.
Nicole Lucier
2:06 pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
We are requesting a permit from UP for a counter-demonstration: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128478793891663
Sonia Dasgupta
6:21 pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thanks Nicole -- do you know who I can talk to about the counter protest -- like who's organizing it? Please e-mail me at sonia@patch.com
Jack nicewarner
7:27 pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
You know it ias kind of funny that the bible says to forgive the sinner but not the sin. also dont judge unless u be judged 1st So were do all the protesters from churches get the right to throw the 1st stone when they cant even follow what the are learning in there church and what they swear they live by there bible Dont get me wrong i love god i pray but it just makes my head spin we these so called christans cant even follow what the preach So keep throwing stones you are the one that has to answer for it when u r standing in from of the Lord and u cant give him the answer he is looking for when he ask you why MAKE U THINK
JIM
9:21 pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I think a counter demonstration that is humorous would be great. Something that acknowledges Phelps as a fool...a side show...not a serious social commentator, but a flim flam man who has found a way to keep his family going by doing horrendously insensitive things.
A counterdemonstration that reveals the circus aspect of this foolishness would be great. No need to take this too seriously.
freshmen
10:10 pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I am a freshman at Northwestern high school and is amazed by how much hatred humans can have. These people are coming from Kansas all the way to northwestern high school in hyattsville, MD to demonstrate that god hates us because we are fagets first of all there is no proof that they found the children that go there are gay and if the people that run the school are gay. some of us are small as 13. it isn't we to protest against it is the government that let its people to be what they want to be.
freshmen
10:33 pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
no one will listen to your their nonsense they are seven we are about two thousand seven hundred including our staff. Think about the Anti-protest do you really want to protest.
Noreen Seiler Dubay
11:35 pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I am an Episcopal priest of an area church. This greatly disturbs me. I will try to keep track of what's going on because there are people in my church, and myself who would like to come and protest. I know this guy is only doing it for the publictiy, but it deeply offends me that for any reason some group of people would have the audacity to say they know how God feels about a group of people that represent up to 25% of the earth's population. Do they really believe God created 25% of the people in the world "sinful?" What kind of God would do that??? Not the God I know and believe in; not the God my congregation knows and believes in.
Linda V.
12:11 am on Thursday, February 24, 2011
JIM has it right. Have fun at the "counter-protest." Make it a joke. Make it a circus. The Westboro Baptist Church hopes for an angry counter-protest. They feed off that. It gives them strength.
Jennifer Mendenhall/Michael Kramer
10:43 am on Thursday, February 24, 2011
The best response is to ignore them. Do not dignify them by taking them seriously. And it's a great demonstration of first amendment rights, so perhaps an open air seminar lead by the Government teacher would be appropriate.
Humor will save the day! Go Wildcats! I'm so proud of our students.
Katie D.
10:18 pm on Thursday, February 24, 2011
I really don't want these carbon life-forms, cause I really can't call them humans, getting anywhere near my alma-mater. They are not Christians, and should not claim to be. A counter-protest will only add fuel to the fire, and I don't want Hyattsville to have a bad spot on its history because its residents weren't better people than the fools of WBC.
I hope the students will hold their ground, cause I know how they can be sometimes--tempers will get high, and school loyalty will kick in, but I know there are good students there who know the difference between right and wrong--and it will show.
Roben
11:17 pm on Thursday, February 24, 2011
I say... How many sins have you committed today????? Clean your own house.... Worry about you making it to heaven... Don't you know being judgmental is a sin also... Do God really approve of you protesting in front of a High School? Is that showing love to our children... Is that the correct way that God would want you to present a point to our children?:?? I say Hate the Sin, But love the sinner....God wants you to love each other... Let us all pray for each other instead of judging each other...
Heather
5:18 pm on Friday, February 25, 2011
In case anyone wants ideas for hilarious signs, the Huffington Post had a *great* series of pictures from the recent Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. If you're looking for awesome sign ideas, check out the collection of pictures:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/30/the-funniest-signs-at-the_n_776490.html
These Westboro folks are completely crazy -- the only real way to take the wind out of their sails is to be far funnier than they are. A word of warning, though -- they survive by provoking folks into altercations, then sue...that's how they fund the "church." So let's keep it civil and non-violent!
Jay
10:02 am on Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Google angel escorts; it is an increasingly traditional way of dealing with these idiots. Everyone wears big angel wings and stands in front to hide their sign and their faces. Humor sounds good- just wanted to mention that their is this way also.
D.R.
11:28 am on Wednesday, March 2, 2011
These people are christians?
I thought christians were not supposed to judge others.
Did I miss something?