ATTENTION!!! Westboro Baptist (aka G*d Hates F*gs) in NYC Tomorrow Oct.11

[EugLoven]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 11:06pm

ATTENTION:
The Westboro Baptist Church (aka "G*d Hates F*gs") will be
trolling through NEW YORK CITY tomorrow Monday October 11, 2010

They will be "touring" Jewish centers and schools in
Brooklyn and concluding at the PFLAG Awards

COUNTER PROTEST
5:00-6:00pm
Tribeca Rooftop
2 Desbrosses Street

BRING YOUR ANGER AND SIGNS
WEAR RED

LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE NOT WELCOME ANYWHERE!!!!
Updated On: 10/10/10 at 11:06 PM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 11:09pm

The best thing to do is completely ignore them. They thrive on attention and media coverage. Just ignore the suckers and it will hurt them more.

[siny]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 11:10pm

They are looking for attention, so why give it to them ? I would only go to point and laugh.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 10/10/10 at 11:18pm

While I respect your position (above comments), some of us cannot stay quiet

7 beautiful boys have killed themselves in the past months (and these are just the ones the media are reporting)

3 terrible hate-crimes (the "worst" involved torturing 3 captive men) have happened in NYC in the span of 1 week.

Hate speech like this is a direct link to suicide and violence within my community. Silence = Death

Updated On: 10/10/10 at 11:18 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 12:27am

IGNORING BULLIES DOES NOT MAKE THEM GO AWAY. Historically, I don't know where that piece of advice originated from but it complete BULLSH!T. Ignoring bullies in the first school I went to didn't help. Ignoring bullies in my second school didn't help. Ignoring bullies in a different school district didn't help. Ignoring bullies in a different state did not help.

Same applies here. Ignoring the Westboro Baptist Church does NOTHING. The type of hatred that they spew combined with their tactics makes it impossible to not invoke reactions. So the best to do is PEACEFULLY OUTNUMBER THEM.

My favorite counter-protest was from when they protested Matthew Shepherd's funeral. Some in the community wore large angel wings and stood in front of them, blocking their signs from the public's view.

Updated On: 10/11/10 at 12:27 AM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 12:47am

Ignoring the Westboro Baptist Church does NOTHING.

How do you know? No one tries. People don't ignore them, that's why they're still making headlines.

These aren't childhood bullies, these are media whores who thrive on the attention. Every counter protest means more and more news shows will book Shirley Phelps for appearances to spew her vitriol to millions of viewers on basic cable instead of just a few dozen passerby at a local protest. There are countless hate groups in America- none have the prominence of this one, and it is because they planned it that way to bring more and more attention to their "cause". By counter protesting, you're just feeding the beast.

Updated On: 10/11/10 at 12:47 AM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 1:11am

Exactly.
They thrive on the counter protests, They thrive on the law suits. It brings them more and more media exposure. They are shrewd strategians. They use society's moral outrage against their tactics to promote themselves and their message of hate.

Updated On: 10/11/10 at 01:11 AM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 3:44am

I respectfully disagree. The only thing I agree with is "no one tries." And that's exactly why your advice does not work. As I said, the type of hatred that they spew combined with their tactics makes it impossible to not invoke reactions. It's outrageous, and people respond. It's impossible for them NOT to get attention.

For example: protesting military funerals is nothing new for them -- they've been doing it for years. Yet just last week, THE VIEW brought it up during hot topics and Whoopi spoke her mind.

And still, whether we choose to ignore them or react, it does not matter. They are so twisted that they will go on with their protests anyway.

I wouldn't want a society to be quiet about their actions. I would want a society to speak out and take action.

They thrive on media attention, so let's not disappoint and GIVE them that media attention! They can promote themselves and their message of hate, and in return more and more people will join us against them.

I just hope that the youngest individuals in that family will eventually come around and learn better.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 4:04am

The church came by to protest a production of The Laramie Project in my town, and my roommate and I drove by where they were supposedly going to appear. I was really afraid people were going to give these attention whores just what they wanted, but other than a friendly but out-of-place drag queen, there was no drama at all.

DO NOT COUNTER-PROTEST.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 10:44am

They thrive on media attention, so let's not disappoint and GIVE them that media attention!

So you want to actively work with the hate group and give them exactly what they want?

They spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on travel costs every year. None of them have jobs, they're too busy protesting. They make money and fund more protests by media appearances and clicks on their website. If you want to make yourself feel better by shouting back at them, you might as well just hand them a blank check.

These people are shrewd opportunists. When they weren't getting the attention they wanted by protesting the funerals of gay victims, they moved onto soldiers and got the universal response they wanted. Now they have a Supreme Court case coming up and when they win, they're going to sell their story to the highest bidder to fund more hate campaigns. They don't just thrive on the media attention, they get paid for it. If everyone would ignore them, they wouldn't be able to afford to protest.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 10:56am

I can't get too worked up over the Phelpses anymore. They're a small family cult whose persuasive powers are nil.

What I do detest about them is that they present a very easy scapegoat for some nasty antigay folks to get mainstream cred. Even Jerry Falwell called Phelps a nut despite the fact that he agreed with the basic theology he's preaching. But it gives the neoFalwells an easy target to denounce in an effort to make their own antigay screeds more palatable.

[Sethdood]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 12:14pm

Hi everyone, I found this thread and wanted to let you in on some things:

NYC Anonymous has known about this for a little while now and we have a counter protest already organized. There will be another group there doing a typical counter protest, however we will not be.

We believe, in the same way that many of you do, that the WBC does indeed want attention drawn to their moronic cause and that another counter protest against them will accomplish very little. They have been protested against everywhere they have gone, and it is nothing new to them.

SO, the point is that our counter protest is vastly different. We are not matching their hate with love, and we are not trying to enlighten their empty brains. We are pretty much going there to make them feel as unwelcome and awful about themselves as possible.

We have a fairly large group, every one of us very well practiced in mockery, insults, theatrics and comedy through being mean. We will verbally abuse them, individually and without restraint, for the entire time their dumb ugly faces are in our line of sight. The theme of our "protest" is that we're mad they won't have sex with us, at least that's what we told the cops. There will be bible eating, sacrilegious behavior, bible eating, mocking hillbilly accents, pointing out bad haircuts, bible eating, acne observations, health advice ("OMG WHY ARE YOU HUGE"), constant unwelcome sexual advances, anti-incest advice, bible eating, and pretty much an all out roast of their lifestyle. I promise you, NYC, they DO NOT WANT this type of attention. They don't want to have pictures of their kids crying in the news, or a massive group of people laughing their asses off at what they look like, or an in depth analysis of which one is the brother-cousin of another.

If this isn't your type of thing, please go into the other police pen with the regular protesters so that your message is not lost. If this IS your type of thing, please bring hysterical with you and get ready to offend those who are so used to offending others.

Our planning thread: http://www.nycanon.org/index.php?topic=1182.msg18053

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=151427938228286

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 12:15pm

While I know that counter-protesting does nothing to deter the Phelps Bunch I am not against the idea. Yes, they want the attention any reaction brings but there could be a positive side to it as well.

An organized and peaceful counter protest can have the ability to show young members of the GLBT community that they are not alone as they may think. Some youngster who's still feeling unsure about things could see the signs promoting peace and love and maybe decide not to give up. That there are things worth living for and worth fighting for.

Maybe I'm too much of a "glass have full" person but I think that's as good a reason to counter protest as any. To show a united front and help others see that people like the Phelps Klan are in the minority.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 12:24pm

I don't think I've ever observed bible-eating before. Does one eat it au naturel, or perhaps with a nice wasabi mayo?

I really don't think you can humilate these people. Their whole cult is based on them being the only people in the world in God's favor, so they probably get a perverse thrill out of being ridiculed. You could douse them in orangutan crap and they'd just shout "Glory!"

[Sethdood]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 12:31pm

"I don't think I've ever observed bible-eating before. Does one eat it au naturel, or perhaps with a nice wasabi mayo?

I really don't think you can humilate these people. Their whole cult is based on them being the only people in the world in God's favor, so they probably get a perverse thrill out of being ridiculed. You could douse them in orangutan crap and they'd just shout "Glory!""


Oh yes, we understand that all too well. BUT I'll tell you what, if there's any group that can really drill in some painful public mockery, it's NYC Anonymous. Keep in mind, this has never happened to them before. They got a tough shell against "sodomites" and other people trying to spread a message of tolerance, but they're gonna think we were sent straight from satan himself. We're the final boss in this video game, and even if they do have what it takes, he he I doubt their kids do.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 12:34pm

Well, good luck, guys. If nothing else, maybe you can break the trance of the least-brainwashed kid. A few have escaped, at least. So go all one-winged angel on them.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 7:43pm

I 85% agree with those who say that if we ignore them, they will stop.

HOWEVER, they will not be ignored. That is my point. It IS going to get attention REGARDLESS of what the informed do or do not do. So IF THEY ARE going to get attention, you might as well counter-protest.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 7:46pm

I won't give them the pleasure of counter protesting but I do fully intend to picket Freds funeral when the time comes.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 10/11/10 at 9:45pm

'We're the final boss in this video game, and even if they do have what it takes, he he I doubt their kids do'

You're going after kids?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 10/12/10 at 12:51am

Attacking kids. That's going to win people over to your cause? If anything, that just adds fuel to their fire of how "depraved the homosexual lifestyle" is. And somehow I get the feeling that they would LOVE to be able to broadcast to the world how the "hell-bound gays" persecuted their children.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 10/12/10 at 12:52am

[tazber]

Posted: 10/12/10 at 8:10am

I'm not going to express an opinion on whether or not I think counter protesting is a good choice mainly b/c I'm conflicted on the issue.

I will just tell you what happened when they came to my city this summer:

Westboro notified city and law enforcement officials of their planned protests over 3 days here in my town. All places that were targeted were told in advance what to expect.

Day one included a temple, and an nearby public high school

Day two included a Jewish day school (most heinous as the school serves pre-k-8th grade. Children shouldn't have to see this nonsense)

Day three included some gay owned establishments and a funeral home plus a church.

It just so happens that I heard about this agenda b/c I know someone who works at the day school and told me they were considering canceling classes that afternoon (they didn't, btw).

Now the Day one targets happen to be literally on the same block as me. I was coming home from work and saw no Phelps' but I did see some college age kids carrying counter protest signs at the local 7-11. I asked how things went and they told that they follow Westboro around counter them in almost every city.

Like activist Deadheads. It was a small group though.

Anyway, neither print nor broadcast news media covered the event. None. Not even the neighborhood paper with a circulation of maybe 200 could be bothered.

The Phelps' canceled days two and three and left town.

So yes, all they want is attention. If they don't get it they will move on like the fetid garbage in the wind that they are.

So, them's the facts. Make your own choice as to whether a counter protest is helping or hurting them and follow your conscience.

Updated On: 10/13/10 at 08:10 AM

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/12/10 at 10:10am

taz, you are correct. These people thrive on attention. it was interesting to see the original post asking people to bring signs and wear red. We have just ignored them and they don't come here anymore because they don't get coverage other than a brief mention on the news. And I think what the people who went up for Matt Shepards funeral did was perfect. No protests or signs. Just the wings and silence. It was perfect and effective.

[tazber]

Posted: 10/12/10 at 11:49am

Well the thing is, I was all about counter protests until they came to my city and then left when no one cared. I can't be anyone's judge about expressing their dislike of these hateful people.

It wasn't until I saw with my own eyes that ignoring them really works that I realized it was the best course of action.

They left us 2 days early and nobody (save for the traveling protesters) even knew they were here.