My Day With Westboro

If you don’t know what the Westboro Baptist Church is, look at my entry, Church or Cult? and you will learn what they are about. To sum them up, they are one of the biggest hate groups in the U.S next to the KKK, they protest funerals of fallen soldiers, protest churches, protest Lady Gaga concerts and are known for their hatred toward the LGBT community.

The WBC came to the Seattle area and me and my awesome friend Maia were out there counter protesting them.

My day began today at 6:50 when I woke up. I woke up and got ready for my day by getting dressed, doing my makeup, and grabbing a frapichino then me, my dad and my protest sign were out the door and on our way to pick up Maia and head to the first location. There me and Maia met this really nice lady who talked to us and applauded us, being only fifteen and eighteen and out there protesting. Her parents were from Topeka, Kansas where this cult is from and they had to get an injunction to keep them away from their temple. As we talked, we noticed something. One of the flags on one of the crazy members of the WBC’s their waists hit the ground. That made a counter protester very mad! He got very angry and yelled across the street at them to not do that. The head lady over there, Margie, started shushing the man from across the street and another fellow counter protester yelled that the man was voicing his opinion, just like our Bill of Rights states. The man told the WBC crazy if he didn’t like this country then leave and they actually got into an argument. the crazy from WBC started preaching stuff that sounded like mumbo jumbo. The Man even called them an abomination after the crazy called us an abomonation. The man was called a fool and the crazy went on a bunch of other rants about religious stuff that makes no since. When he read my sign (it said “if you do not love, you don’t know God, because God is love 1 John 4:8) and went on about how God stated “I love you, now these are my commandments now tell the whole story” another shouting match ensued on that story and how he claims “thou shall not divorce and remarry” is a commandment and when pointed out to him it wasn’t, he claimed that everything was his commandment.

After that, it got silent and Maia and I started singing Born This Way and I Kissed A Girl, so we couldn't hear Margie singing their song “God Hates America.” Not too long after that, the cult’s getaway van arrived and we all left to the next location.

After we got to the next location and were walking over and a girl approached us and asked if she could pray for us. I thought that was really nice of her so we did a prayer before going to our corner to counter protest. This church was in a more populated area and even more counter protesters showed up. Two with signs that were about supporting our troops. One of the many, many evil things this “church” is known to do is protest funerals of fallen soldiers who died fighting for our country and their right to free speech so they can continue to spread their hate and their filth all over the country. It is awesome that they are banned from the U.K and Canada. Maybe I should move there, just so I don’t have to put up with being in the same country as these crazies! Just like the man said at the first protest, if you don’t like it here, then leave! While at this picket, I noticed that apparently, God hates grammar. On one of their signs it said ‘Christians’ caused Fag Marriage. Last time I checked, you use “” not ‘’ when trying to put the point across that it is being sarcastic or something along that manner. The grammar Nazi in my Writing For Publication would have had a heart attack and caused a scene right there. I kind of wish she was there so she could. It would have been hilarious to watch them argue with her on that and see their expressions. It would be pretty epic. What surprised me the most was when more and more people showed up.

Across the street where they were protesting, a Canadian who was making a documentary was there interviewing the crazy that got into the argument with the man about the American flag was talking to her for a good ten minutes most likely doing his “preaching” like he did to the man at the church before. What a camera whore (that’s what Maia and I called him). I knew who he was. I saw him in the Westboro Documentary by Louis Theroux. He kicked out his own daughter because she questioned the message they were spreading. This is the guy who produced the music spoofs and helps make the protest signs. I wish I had the guts to yell, “Where’s Lauren” just to get a rise out of him, but I didn’t. you can’t hold a conversation with a crazy, let alone an argument, plus, I my mom always told me not to poke the crazies. It wouldn’t end well.

One thing I noticed here was that there was this silent protester who sat gracefully behind the crazies. She had love and a bunch of quotes written on her. at first, I thought she might have been a member of them who didn’t want to do it anymore, but then I saw what was written on her and since it was nice and meaningful love and not hate, I knew she was one of the good guys.

A couple other people showed up and what they were holding was American flags. That was pretty awesome. The two with the flags held them high and let them flow in the wind. It was great to have more Patriotic people there.

The next location we went to the counter protesters arrived first. They had a half an hour break between locations, but the counter protesters wouldn’t take a break from standing up for what they believe in. I am not sure if that protest was when a man older man in a kilt showed up or if at the church before. Either way, I knew instantly he was a cool guy. His shirt was white and he drew on it with fabric markers. It stated “Every Human Has Rights.“ it was pretty cool. This location had three different areas for the counter protesters. It was street that had a turn that lead to the church so Westboro was across the street while we counter protesters  were on each side of the turn and some of us went to their side and stood next to him, like the guy with the sign that says “fuck this guy” and points towards one of the Crazies.  Two new girls showed up. One was around my age, I know that because she asked me if I went to MGHS and when I replied saying yes, I am a MG Charger, she informed me we were in the same Music Lab class but she came in toward the end of the year which is when I hid in the practice rooms with my pals Kannaah and Gabby. It was cool to see someone from my school there. She and her girlfriend then crossed the street and stood next to Margie Phelps. One of the girl’s signs said “WTF?” And pointed towards her. the others said “God Hates Signs.” Not too long after that they turned their sings over and one said “I kiss her.” the girl was referring to her girlfriend who was with her. her girlfriends sign said “Homosexuality is sin-sational.”

While at this location, the counter protesters yelled back and forth to each other making jokes and pretty much mocking the WBC. This is when a bunch of cars started honking at us in appreciation for counter protesting these freaks. Every time someone would honk, we would all cheer and wave. Maia even got a semi-truck to honk his horn.

One of the funniest things that happened at this location was when Maia spotted their getaway van parked less than a block away in a fire line. Maia then yelled out to her cop friend that was patrolling the area that we needed a tow truck. Everyone started laughing. Too bad he wasn’t in the area anymore and their getaway van was not towed. That would have been hilarious. But no, the getaway van came and whisked them all away to the next location. Maia’s church.

At this location more people showed up. It was amazing! So many people were supporting our messages of good faith and that homosexuality is not a sin and our country is not a doomed nation. Not too long into this protest was when Margie started singing God Hates America. I looked to Maia and she knew what I was thinking. Time to start singing something else louder. After looking through my iPhone, we decided on Firework. Something Maia knew all the lyrics too. I sang along too, not very well though. I sound like a dying walrus when I sing. What would have been awesome is if my dad parked the car close and I could have plugged my phone into the docking system and we could have blasted Born This Way. It would have been awesome!

Not too long after that their getaway van arrived which I found very weird, they had only been there for about fifteen minutes. They cut out early. That was interesting. From the research I have done on them, they have never cut out early. They always stayed for the full amount of time on their schedule. But today they didn’t do that.

They didn’t even show up at the last location either.  All us counter protesters showed up and just waited and while we waited we got to know each other better and more cars honked at us loving our message of love that we were spreading. Some of the people I got to know were Tiffany Peterson and her friend Dylan Richardson. Tiffany held a sign that stated “religion poisons everything” and a gay pride flag. Her sign was true. Religion does not mix with other parts of society outside of church, temple, or mosques. The government needs to keep church and state separate. I want my government to make decisions based on The Constitution, not The Bible. The law of the land always comes before the law of the religion. And since we are all given certain unalienable rights and among those rights are the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Hearing that, gay marriage should be legal because it is part of the pursuit of happiness and does not affect the public good in a negative way.

Dylan carried a sign that stated “Worship Satan.” Although I do not at all agree with that statement, it was hilarious to see next to the Westboro Crazies. You would see “God H8s Fags” and “your pastors are whores” and then you would see Dylan holding his sign stating “Worship Satan” you would have yourself a good laugh.

Two people showed up at this protest who wore t-shirts that said “Army” on them and were in the service. Tiffany quickly introduced herself to them and thanked them for their service. Her little brother is in the service.

While we waited, some people made jokes that maybe they got in an accident on the way here. Maia then yelled out “Thank God!” although thanking God on that is very unchristian like for me, I have to admit, that would have been amazing. We would have gotten rid of eight people in one of the biggest hate groups in the United States.

Fifteen minutes later, they didn’t show. I checked my twitter for news on them on why they didn’t show up. There was nothing on the Crazies twitters.

Ten minutes later, all of us were wrapping things up. The Crazies didn’t show. We all did a dance of victory and to celebrate even more, two girls kissed. One of the best ways to protest a homophobic group.

After that, Maia and I went home and I took a shower. I was in the same vicinity as those Crazies; of course I needed to shower!

Thinking back at my day, I honestly can say there is nothing in my life that I have done that I am prouder of then this.  I went out to a hate group and counter protested against their messages of hate. I stood up for what I believe in and Maia’s right to marry whoever the heck she wants to marry. I met some awesome people and had a great life experience.

There is nothing I would change when it came to my day with Westboro. If they come back, I will be there in a heartbeat to counter protest again. This is 2012, there is no room for intolerance and homophobia anymore.