As most of you know, the Westboro Baptist Church is planning on picketing in Blacksburg on April 9th. They are protesting the unthinkable: April 16.
I will never forget my freshman year when they threatened to protest the funerals of the victims, and a radio host gave them airtime to prevent them from something I cannot even comprehend. April 16, as we all know, was a day that changed us as a university. It was a day that will always be with us, and to explain what some of us felt on this day cannot be adequately explained with words. It is hard to understand how people carry so much hatred for others. It is sad to know that there are still people in this world who refuse to stand for peace and coexist with whom they deem as 'different'. How people can be so evil is something that may never be understood. These people live for publicity, and it is sickening to know that they are so well versed in the law. Unfortunately, knowing this, when they picket funerals, they are protected under law.
Now, I am writing because I am requesting your attendance on Saturday, March 27 at 2 p.m. in Owens Dining Hall to discuss how to respond to the Westboro Baptist Church’s protest of April 16. I have read a lot of e-mails about ideas of holding funny signs, such as “Don’t inflate flags,” “Renew your tags,” or “I have a sign!” However, other students do not want to respond at all, which is definitely a possibility. My concern is that some community members will be coerced into seeing their protest. They claim that they will be in high traffic areas — on the church's Web site it says they will be going to North Main and East Roanoke Street, Blacksburg High School, and the Blacksburg Jewish Community Center.
On Saturday, we will be discussing what our collective response will be. It is important that we work together to ensure no one sees them, and everyone works toward the same goal. Also, if we decide to protest their protest, I feel that we need to have a concrete plan that everyone understands. It is important to note that this rally will be very emotional, but please do not touch the protesters or do anything harmful. They may record everything and pursue legal action. Again, I cannot stress the importance of working as one — One Hokies United. For individually, we are weak, as the student body we are strong, and as a university, we are powerful. I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.
Brandon Carroll
SGA president
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I think by Saturday, April 9th at 2pm in Owen's...they meant to publish March 27th at 2pm at Owen's to make a plan for April 9th.
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I'm for not acknowledging them at all. Stay away, ignore them completely. If you have to do something, then a fundraiser.... raise funds for the April 16th scholarships. I know that day is Relay for Life weekend, right? So why not go to the Drillfield and make a donation there.
The main thing is to be peaceful. Focus on the positive. Don't lower ourselves to their level in any way.
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The key is to not confront them, lets just be annoying and stupid. Let's Rick Roll them until they leave. Several stereos on a loop, we can dance while they are forced to listen. 80s dance party protest!
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If you really want them ignored, convince the police department to reroute traffic away from the areas where WBC is protesting and encourage all foot traffic to stay away. Let them protest with no one there to see them or video tape them. 'Course this includes all media (tv, radio, & newspaper). Do that a couple of times and they'll go somewhere else for publicity.
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Good thought. I wouldn't mind driving a few blocks out of my way to keep them from having an audience.
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Ummm no thanks. You should not rely on the police for anything. Relying on the police for help will cost you your head, literally. If you want to drive out of the way, then by all means, do it. But don't inconvenience me with yet more police state antics. It's bad enough we have to drive through random DUI checkpoints and show our papers like we live in Nazi Germany.
I agree that the best thing to do is ignore them.
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Then tell everyone including yourself to stop driving drunk so the police can stop having DUI check points. Then you won't have to show your papers and be inconvenienced anymore. I also won't be killed by you or someone else driving drunk! What a plus. As for the protest - I agree that peaceful is the way to go. They want publicity and if they are ignored they will go away.
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I have had my fare share of whimsical ideas for dealing with these people, but in all seriousness they want confrontation, they want media attention, us coming out and counter protesting them is exactly what they want. The best thing to do is ignore them, don't give them fuel to stoke the fire with. Not to mention the media loves confrontation, give them nothing, and they will just go away.
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I agree with this. And just to point out, they plan on protesting at the High School, which is obviously not in use currently. I think we should encourage them to stay at an empty school and protest all day long if they want.
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You might want to consider contacting the rolling thunder guys. They attend funerals of fallen service members where the Westboro (my choice of words would be buried by the moderator) protest.
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heh, thats what we need, some good ole boy bikers to put them in their place
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A UIC student used the appearance of the Westboro church to raise money for groups such as Human Rights Campaign, International AIDS Foundation and Jerusalem Open House. Donations were named in honor of the Westboro Baptist Church and community thank you cards were sent from the non-profits to WBC leader Fred Phelps. There's a video of it on youtube.
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JUST IGNORE THEM!!!!!!
My sister went to KU and delt with Phelps and his crew's antics for 4 years. They thrive off of counter reactions, especially when they get heated.
These people have been doing this for YEARS and there really is no way of stopping their constitutional right of free exercise.
It sucks but this is a part of our freedom and rights.
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The way to win against these guys is to use their negativity in a positive way. Watch the video below showing how a student named Jason made the best of the situation.
http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=5148987
If we do what these people did, WBC will lose.
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