They deserve a pat on the back.

12 years ago

Who??? Our local new media.

Why??? Coverage of the visit to our city by a group from the Westboro Baptist church. A PROTEST Group.

The TV stations decided not to send cameras or crews to picture them or to get interviews. The newspaper barely mentioned that they came. There was a picture of the anti-protest group of about 200 people that followed them around from church to church as they protested.

Everytime they started to sing or shout, they were drowned out by the others saying USA, USA, USA Our local group carried a lot of nice signs about nice things, not hate. I don't know what the Westboros carried as there were no pictures of them. The four targented churches were expecting them and decided to ignore the situation. Although one church did say that they stationed an extra usher at the front entrance.

The Westboro group? Three women and four children

They are supposed to be back Friday to picket the high schools.

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Comments (7)

sara_the_brit_z6_ct
12 years ago
Excellent! These bigots thrive on "the oxygen of publicity" as the saying goes. If their obnoxious ravings don't get reported, they will become irrelevant.
rob333 (zone 7b)
12 years ago
USA, USA, USA! I love it. That is fantastic. Great idea.
west_gardener
12 years ago
I remember this group. The Supreme Court said they had free speach.

"In an 8Ã¯Â¿Â½"1 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Phelps on March 2, 2011. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion stating: "What Westboro said, in the whole context of how and where it chose to say it, is entitled to 'special protection' under the First Amendment and that protection cannot be overcome by a jury finding that the picketing was outrageous."

As far as I can see, the Court said nothing about the press, so the press can choose how they cover this issue.
sara_the_brit_z6_ct
12 years ago
Yes, having the freedom to say what you think doesn't mean you have the right to have it reported by an equally free press :)
mawheel
12 years ago
Good for your local news media! IMO, most of the time, if TV/radio/newspapers didn't "promote", i.e., give coverage to all the c... that goes on, it would fade away, instead of growing bigger.
anneliese_32
12 years ago
Living close to a National Veterans Cemetary, we had the joy more then once. After the first time the news ignored them and it is impressive how many motorcycle escorts line the way and "rude" people just line up in front of that bunch so that they are isolated.
west_gardener
12 years ago
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "is an independent Baptist church known for its extreme stance against homosexuality".