Westboro Baptist Church Protesters Blocked At Fallen Soldier's Funeral; plan to Picket Memorial for Shooting victims in CO

(I try not to hate because it's wasted energy, but hate is what fuels these Westboro Baptist Church morons. They are the scum of the earth. Protesting the funerals of fallen soldiers. And now, we know how to drive them off. Cowards will always turn tail. --jef)

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The Huffington Post  |  By Mollie Reilly Posted: 07/22/2012

A planned protest by the Westboro Baptist Church was overshadowed Saturday when thousands of supporters gathered at the funeral of a fallen soldier to block the radical church's effort.

Thousands of people in red shirts formed a "human wall" around the Columbia, Mo. church where 21-year-old Army Specialist Sterling Wyatt's funeral was held. Wyatt was killed in Afghanistan earlier this month.

Westboro Baptist Church, an independent Kansas-based church known for its extreme ideology and widely condemned demonstrations, had indicated plans to picket the funeral. When Tori Smith, an acquaintance of Wyatt's, got wind of the protest plans, she decided to organize a small group of supporters to counteract the church's negative actions. Word of Smith's plans spread quickly, drawing thousands to the church on Saturday morning.

According to KBIA, the "red wall" was highly effective in fending off the small group from Westboro, who reportedly left the church area early in the afternoon.

The Columbia Daily Tribune relayed details on the outpouring of support:

Several times, Wyatt's parents, Randy and Sherry, and brother Chandler, came out of the church before the 1 p.m. service to greet and hug attendees. 

"Thank you so much," Sherry Wyatt said on one occasion, holding a bouquet of red roses.

"The outpouring of love has been overwhelming," said Judy Baker, a close family friend. "It's so great to live in a community that is willing to honor the fallen. … This is what Americans are made of, and to see it on display is an experience I'll never forget."

Baker said her son summed it up when he said Columbia typically feels like a small city, "but today it feels like a town with everybody coming together," she said.

Westboro Baptist Church frequently pickets military funerals around the country, based on the group's belief that deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are God's punishment for the United States' tolerance of homosexuality. Last year, the group announced plans to "quadruple" their protest efforts following a Supreme Court decision that ruled such demonstrations are protected by the First Amendment.

Earlier this month, a counter-demonstration similar to the one at Wyatt's funeral proved equally effective. Students at Texas A&M University dressed in maroon t-shirts and formed a circle the funeral service for a fallen soldier. Westboro protesters never arrived at the event, according to reports.

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(I hope the Westboro fuckers get the same treat ment for this sickening plan of theirs too.--jef)

Westboro Baptist Church Threatens To 'Super Picket' Aurora Prayer Vigil For Batman Shooting Victims 
 The Huffington Post  |  By Laura Hibbard Posted: 07/22/2012 

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church appear to be on their way to protest a prayer vigil for victims of the Aurora massacre, according to tweets from members posted by Examiner.com.
Using the hashtag #ThankGodForTheShooter, Examiner.com reports members tweeted out their plans to "super picket" the candle lit prayer service, saying "God is at work in Colorado."

Fred Phelps Jr @WBCFredJr

Hi ho Hi ho, to Colorado we go! #godsenttheshooter! #americaisdoomed! #godisyourenemy! #godkillingyoursoldiers! examiner.com/article/westbo…

Almost immediately, members of the community launched a campaign on Reddit and Facebook to form a "wall of love" around the memorial service to block the group from getting close.

Church member Fred Phelps Jr. said these efforts would be in vain:

@WBCFredJr WBC in Colorado to conquer yet another "wall", just like yesterday in Columbia. #andthewallcametumblingdown! http://t.co/NeTmqnfg

Earlier this morning, the Denver Comic Con released a statement on their Facebook page urging patrons of the convention to assist in forming a human barrier in front of the service.
“If you volunteered for Denver Comic Con 2012, or any other Con, and are planning to attend tonight's vigil, please consider wearing your volunteer t-shirt. I'm asking my DCC volunteers to be prepared to help form the barrier, should Westsboro show up."

(And as it was described in the previous article, the Westboro liars conquered no walls. They scurried away like the cowardly roaches they are . and lied to themselves like they do about their ridiculous opinions of god. If there's a hell, it has a special place for people like these.--jef)