Westboro shit may hit the fan tomorrow in Waco

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Tomorrow:

In wake of the explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas that killed 14 people and left a 90-foot crater after leveling much of the town, United States President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will attend a memorial service at Baylor’s Ferrell Center on Thursday at 2 p.m.

According to a Baylor press release, since the Ferrell Center’s seating capacity is about 10,000, the service will be streamed live at www.Firehero.org/westtexas.

Beginning at 11 a.m., nearly 4,000 first responders and 300 fire trucks from communities across the U.S. will march in a processional in the streets of Waco.

Westboro Baptist Church will be coming to Baylor University in Waco on Thursday to protest outside memorial services for firefighters who lost their lives in last week's fertilizer plant explosion in West.


http://www.topix.com/city/waco-tx/2013/04/westboro-baptist-church-heading-to-west-for-firefighter-funeral-protest
http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/04/president-barack-obama-wife-michelle-to-attend-west-memorial-at-ferrell-center-thursday.html/

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Tell them Teamsters Local 25 Boston was asking for them

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Yes, too bad unions aren't as strong as they are in Boston !

I received this email from the local Dems - this relates to West funeral. Haven't seen anything organized yet against Westboro at Baylor....

OPERATION BLUE FOR RED--Help us form a human chain (dressed in red to honor firefighters) to block those attending a Saturday morning funeral in West from having to view Westboro Baptist Church protesters. This Westboro group claims that God sent the plant explosion to punish America for supporting gay rights.

The protesters plan to be there at 10:15, so we need to meet at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 301 S. Harrison, in West at 9:15 a.m. We will join others of all political persuasions in forming a line, locked arm-in-arm. For this one occasion, please wear RED.

[Sheldon Cooper]

2. They seem to be losing their steam.

I seem to recall that they've threatened to protest the last several sad tragedy funerals and then never showed up.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. yes, just read that the leadership calls for a protest but

doesn't mean people will actually show up. thinking maybe because Obama will be there, may incite them more.

[RantinRavin]

5. They haven't lost any steam

Everyone is still talking about them. Exactly what they want!

[leftyohiolib]

9. not me i'm not talking about them.... damn it i just did ..... nt

[adieu]

11. It's like the modern-day filibuster

They don't actually have to do it, just raise a stink that they will and that's enough to garner attention, which is all they want.

[ananda]

6. Well, if the object is to set up lawsuits..

.. and they fail, then I guess there's no reason to "protest" any more.

[ismnotwasm]

7. The director Kevin Smith

Staged a counter protest against them when they protested the release of his film "Red State". He actually met them, gave them tickets to one his movie theater openings. It's a hilarious account, since "Red State" (a horror movie) featured a family much like Westboro's.

Anyway, he made so much fun of them in subtle ways he took away some of their impact. They're still total asswipes of course.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. Here's their hate filled call for protest: Warning: Hate

http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/20130421_TX-Fertilizer-Plant-Explosion-Firefighter-Memorial.pdf

[malaise]

10. Do you think the SS will let the Westboro loonies get near

Barack and Michelle Obama. It's not going to happen

[Blue_Roses]

12. this makes no sense

What is wrong with these people?

[Iliyah]

13. Can someone tell me the logic or purpose

of what these people are doing? When one of their own die do they serve them as vital substance? They look and sound like ancient tribes that ate their own for power, miracles and strengths, just saying.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

18. They're driven by MONEY. Not "faith".

[Lizzie Poppet]

19. Their "business plan" is pissing people off enough to do something they can be sued for.

It's as cynical a manipulation of the tort system as you could ask for...

[Chakab]

27. Indeed. These people are second only to Ann Coulter

when it comes to professional trolling.

The best way to get rid of them is to ignore them. Not even the bigots on the "mainstream" religious right take them seriously, and most of the younger members of the Phelps family seem to leave the church as soon as they have an opportunity in spite of being brainwashed for their entire lives. I don't think that they'll be around for very long after Fred Phelps dies.

[Posteritatis]

20. They're trying to provoke assaults. (nt)

[Lawlbringer]

14. I know they're crazy hateful morons

but how are they justifying it to themselves? This thing doesn't seem like it's up their political alley. I'm legitimately curious.

[IdaBriggs]

24. They did an interview with an actor from the UK that was "bloody brilliant."

It actually gave them a legitimate platform; the speaker explained they are trying to be blunt that "sinning" (aka currently acceptable behavior in the United States) is BAD. They are trying to get people's attention, and since the "explain it nicely" doesn't work, their thought process is "well, we will try the other way!"

[TeamPooka]

28. "the other way" is burning a cross too. It's the KKK's way of getting people's attention.

[IdaBriggs]

34. In the interview (Bertrand Russell) there was actual communication.

(Not saying agreement!).

I recommend watching it: http://loltheists.com/?p=3211

[Laura PourMeADrink]

32. Did they say who their members are? Is it a loose organization of

anyone who happens to feel the need to protest what they think is wayward?

[IdaBriggs]

33. Bertrand Russell did the interview.

Highly recommend watching it.

http://loltheists.com/?p=3211

[RoccoR5955]

15. How many of these things do they threaten to protest...

...and how many do they actually protest?
I bet it's like ten threats to one protest or less.

[linbarkertx]

16. westboro

My son and I will join with the Patriot Guard in the morning to stand against these haters.

[classof56]

21. Many thanks to you for representing all of us who find this group reprehensible.

And welcome to DU!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

30. What is the "Patriot Guard" ? Is that an organized group? The Dems in Central

Texas may be organize a counter-protest. Same thing??

[austinlw]

17. The interesting part of this

is that Waco is a fairly conservative area, and Baylor is a Baptist university, but relatively moderate as Baptists go. WBC will be met by a lot of Baptists who are just not going to put up with having a memorial service for their respected and beloved neighbors disrupted by such hateful and irrelevant shenanigans. Could get interesting.

[LeftInTX]

22. Is Westboro really Baptist? Is it even a church?

The WBC is not affiliated with any Baptist denomination, including the two largest Baptist denominations, the Baptist World Alliance or the Southern Baptist Convention, both of which have denounced the WBC over the years.

[

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

Their "church" displays a huge, "God Hates America" banner. The "church" marque states, "God Hates Happy People".

[AtheistCrusader]

23. They aren't going to show up.

They will chicken out, as per usual.

[rdking647]

25. i have a feeling if they show up

they will regret it. if they survive...
this is texas after all. and if someone took them out i dont think a jury in the state would convict them

[Laura PourMeADrink]

31. Yes. This is where honoring the valiant first responders trumps ignorant disgust for gender

equality

[The CCC]

26. Westboro shit may hit the fan tomorrow in Waco

WBC is as worthless as they come, but they have every right to prove how worthless they are. I can not condone violence against them no matter what I think of the opinions.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

29. Lordy...did you see the cowboy ass Waco Sheriff on the news?

“We’ve been made aware that there could be individuals or groups who plan to picket or protest during the funeral services of our fallen heroes. Make no mistake about it, any attempt by any group or organization to disrupt the funerals of any of our victims of this tragedy will be dealt with swiftly and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.“


I know, doesn't sound that bad, but if you could have heard him - sounded like a wild west sheriff in a movie.