The Westboro Baptist Church is back in Tampa and a counter protest movement is already springing into action. The church, complete with its familiar “God Hates Fags” signs, protested several public and private schools in the Tampa Bay area in early April. While the group is best known for protesting at the funerals of fallen American soldiers to demonstrate how America’s acceptance of homosexuality has angered God, it has protested schools before.
On this swing through Florida, however, the hate group is taking a different approach.
Westboro, run by Fred Phelps, is protesting the Bon Jovi concert at the St. Pete Times Forum on Saturday, April 17. Local LGBT activists Jen Greenfield and Zeke Fread immediately launched a grassroots counter protest group on Facebook shortly after the Topeka Kansas-based church announced its plans.
According to the church’s web site, the protest of the concert stems from the legendary rock band’s unwillingness to preach God’s message.
“These old fools have had access to millions all over the world for nearly three decades,” the site said, “but they have not one time told any of them what God requires of them.”
The protest, the church said, will bring its message to the audience and remind them that “time is short.”
Spokespeople for the church have said that its hateful protests are in response to the country’s accepting views of homosexuality. It has also stated that the deaths of American soldiers overseas are God’s punishment on the United States for those pro-gay views.
Greenfield is encouraging those attending the counter-protest to bring signs and to keep the gathering peaceful.
“This has to be a peaceful protest and as you and I both know, you cannot reason with these folks,” Greenfield said. “Signs should read ‘God Hates Shrimp’ or other similar satirical messages seen at similar events in order to combat religious extremism with humor.”
Greenfield also added that those attending the counter protest will not participate in any illegal activities and touching the Westboro protestors could result in a lawsuit.
While it’s not expected that the Westboro Baptist Church group will back out of its planned protest, Greenfield said that the counter-protest will go on whether the church is is there or not.
“Why not?” she said. “They suck.”
For more information on the counter protest, which begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, visit the Facebook group “Counter Protest of the hate group Westboro Baptist Church.” Specific location information should be released soon.
