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Friday, April 3, 2009

"God hates fags" Westboro Baptist Church protest comes to Napa, Sat, Apr 4: BREAKING NEWS

[9am Update: counter-protest plans are linked below.
10:30am Update: counter-protest plans for Angwin have been canceled so that we are not bringing attention to the group and to give mourners the respect they deserve. Plans for Napa are still on, but changing rapidly as organizers figure out the best tactic.
12:25pm Update: all counter-protests have been canceled other options remain below.]

I'm not sure of how or why, but the Westboro Baptist Church will be coming through town with their parade of hateful signs and craziness tomorrow, Saturday, April 4th.

They're not targeting specifically gay things in town, however. Best guesses are that they are bringing their special brand of empathy to protest the memorials for the Montana plane crash victims.

On their tour agenda is:
  • Angwin's Pacific Union College Church from 3:15p - 4p
    "Pacific Union College Church - You Eat Your Children! 10 Angwin Ave What you deep-dyed, murderous, libidinous, filthy God-hating perverts need is a fresh, correct perspective, to wit: How gracious is God to have delivered these little children from the hands of this murdering man and other family members who were merely preparing them to EAT THEM?! That is the correct perspective. We will picket outside on the sidewalk in proximity to the squall fest/worship service for this family of baby killing swine. You read that correctly, and here is the Bible support for it: Isaiah 66:1 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog?s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine?s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. These well-to-do violent BRUTES chose to delight, and get rich off of violating a very simple four-word Commandment of God Almighty: Ex 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. Now God has dealt justly and righteously with them, and you want to try to make them out like THEY are the victims? Any who take part in this abomination called being in any way upset by these deaths are like those who would take a dog or a pig and slaughter it in the middle of the street and say they are serving God. AMEN!"

    and

  • Napa's St. John the Baptist Catholic Church from 6-7p
    St. John the Baptist Catholic Church - God H8s LIARS! 960 Caymus St. "Big, HUGE TROUBLE" - that is what this pedophile rape-enabling dog kennel is in. We will picket you for your lies, filth and hatred for your neighbour and God. How dare you try in any way, shape or form to rope John Baptist into your filth. Like everything else about God, and the Bible you lie, lie, lie. You cannot even blush, you are so hardened and evil. Jeremiah 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 8:12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. AMEN and STOP RAPING THE BABIES!

Quotes and schedule are from their horrible (almost laughable?) website.

A counter-protest was being planned for the Westboro pickets, but plans have been changed and ALL COUNTER PROTESTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED as we take into account that we DO NOT WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THEIR CAUSE. Here's what Napa's Join the Impact is encouraging:
* Do not yell at or respond to the WBC protesters. They seem to enjoy the confrontation. Don’t give in to it.
* Please be praying for us or sending positive energy our way.
* Forward this email to your friends.
The police don't think there will be more than 4 or 5 people from the Westboro Church with their horrible pickets. Father Gordon at St. John's feels the most effective response is to ignore the protesters and I tend to agree to an extent. They are CRAVING attention, and a counter-protest and/or media attention brings them exactly what they want. I don't think I could stand by without doing anything though, either. Additionally, bringing people's attention to this kind of crazy hate might be good for the equality cause...

Here's what I think: if the Napa Unity League can get together a letter in support of love and equality and get a coalition of gay and other progressive groups to sign on in support, we can send that to the media, also stating that we are not taking the Westboro group serious enough to stage a counter-protest nor are we going to bring them more attention.

For those that absolutely don't want to leave their protest unchecked, how about we show up at St. John's and stage a silent, peaceful vigil of prayer and good will. No signs, no politics, just postive presence.
Your thoughts?

Ideas on how best to respond without giving them the attention they want?

Thanks to Izzy for the heads up on this news.

14 comments:

  1. The protest at Pacific Union coincides with the Memorial Service (it starts at 4pm). Not sure why they chose St. John's.

    Time to start rallying the troops!

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  2. April fools is over. You got me then, now you must be trying again. This is just too batshit crazy to be true. Surely no one can be that hateful. But then, it's true believers. They let a man who says he knows what god wants, armed with the old testament, tell them what to think and do instead of using their own understanding of the new testament and their own sense of right and wrong.
    I have to work so won't be there. I also had dreams of being rounded up by Nazi's last night, so probably not good for my mental health to see these folks again right now anyway. But to anyone who does go, remember these folks want to make you look bad, so don't give them what they want.

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  3. umm.....okay....if this is real i'm going to get some of my GSA over there to check things out. I really would have never expected them to go all the way over here, But i'll check it out. I was planning on going to downtown today for most of the afternoon so i can easily walk right over to St.John's. I wont mind doing a counter protest, I can have myself and two others ready today from my GSA to go do it, but it would be nice to have more than just three high school students. Anyone from the older crowd going to counter protest?

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  4. Here are the details for the counter-protest:

    http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Napa+County

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  5. I think they probably will..I just think its a bit unusual for them to go all the way here, but I guess most of the things they say i don't agree with and I find them unusual. I can't make it to the one at PUC but i can go to the one at St.John's. If others shall go to counter-protest, then i'm in, just need to know before hand a little bit so i can round up more people. I'll be in the area so i'll walk over and check it out around 5:45 and if i see others i'll stay. umm...I don't exactly have protesting materials at the moment but i will bring white knot ribbons for people to wear.

    How many of us plan on going?

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  6. I'm updating the main post as things change, so stay tuned...

    Angwin counter-protest has been canceled out of respect for the mourners.

    St. John's counter-protest is still on, but maybe canceled, too, so that we're not bringing undue attention to the protesters. Maybe we'll show up without signs or materials just as silent, prayerful (or good thoughts, if you're not a pray-er) supporters of equality.

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  7. okay, that actually makes more sense. I'll be there if things don't cancel out.

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  8. Now my thoughts on the bringing attention to them being a good for the equality cause. I think it was a good thing to cancel the funeral counter protest. The family would be going through a tought time and that would just make things worse, but now with the St.John's one. If we do bring awareness to this, it may open up peoples eyes to just how much hate is still out there, and how people need to stand up to that hate.

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  9. UPDATE: All counter-protests have been cancelled. The general feeling is that it's better to ignore the bigots and not give them the attention that they are seeking.
    Ultimately, love WILL conquer hate!
    Sorry for any confusion or concern this has created.

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  10. Is there anyway we have a peaceful counter-protest?
    maybe something like what some people did for Mathew Shepard's funeral?

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  11. A peaceful counter-protest is something along the lines i believe we should do, but that wouldn't work if we don't have others to be supportive and join us in that.

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  12. if someone is willing to get together a small counter-protest, i would more than willing to go and help out

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  13. These nut cases were in Angwin. They would not stop the singing to even talk to me! I had no idea this group even existed. Imagine my surprize to come up Howell Mountain and find this group!

    We have enough trouble up here just dealing with Pacific Union College and their developer friends who are set on destruction of our home!~

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