Rhonda S.
Yelp
I had a run in with these cowards yesterday. I attended a peace rally in Joplin, Missouri for the tornado victims, and the main reason of the rally was to keep Westboroites from picketing there. WBC blamed gays in the military for the cause of the 130 + deaths in Joplin.
6000 people and over 200 Patriot Riders showed up to prevent them from picketing. They were arrested, some. A few had the nerve to drive by the human chain of 6000 people and flip us off. It was in an in closed SUV, and the hand of a child.
At the gathering, they showed up, and between the Joplin Police and motorcycles, they were ran out of town. It was nonviolent and I doubt the Westboroites lawyers can sue for any action.
Let's shed some light on the Westboroites. I term them this cause they are not a church. They are a family of extremists, where the adults are all lawyers. Smart lawyers, yet nuisances. Nuisances cause no one believes their crap, and I doubt they do either. They listed as a church, so they couldn't get arrested for their actions. They make their income by getting sued, and winning cases. The minute anyone from counter protests lays a hand on one of them, that person is sued.
They get by with the freedom of peace act cause they know the minute parts of the law that others don't. They aren't a church, I doubt if they have any beliefs at all. in Joplin, churches are allowed to protest. tah dah.
In Joplin yesterday, they weren't welcomed. I also saw in Harrisonville, at a military funeral, they were met with hundreds of people. my estimation, and I believe it has already begun, is that people will begin to laugh at them, and stop paying attention to them. They try to provoke, but if they aren't allowed to provoke, then eventually, it will become boring to the Westboroites. I also suspect that karma will eventually play it's part. Also, it feels very powerful and enriching to be a part of a group that out number's the Westborites, and sends them on to the next unwanting town.