Human Wall To Block Westboro Baptist Church Protesters From Emanuel AME Funerals (999 hits)
June 23, 2015 ] By Jazmine Denise Rogers
AP Images
So Westboro Baptist Church is planning to protest at the funerals of the nine victims killed in the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting. The controversial organization took to social media last weekend to taunt mourners, insisting that the shooting is an act of God that was triggered by Reverend Clementa Pinckney’s support of Hillary Clinton.
“We aim to picket Charleston funerals to warn the living. Dylann Roof did an evil thing but so did Clementa Pinckney!” a representative from the group tweeted.
“Lessons from #CharlestonShooting: •Stay away from @HillaryClinton fundraisers •Stop conducting lying Bible studies,” says another tweeted.
They have even gone as far as to create signs that read:
“God sent the shooter.”
In response to the scheduled protests, a Facebook event has been created to invite Emanuel supporters to gather during the funerals and act as human shields to keep WBC protesters away from the victims’ families. South Carolina organizers explain:
“Westboro Baptist is planning to protest the funeral services of the nine Angels that our Holy City lost last week. We will be creating a human, peaceful barrier between the protestors and the families. The funeral services and arrangements will be posted here. Please spread the word and let’s keep these horrible messengers of evil from disrupting our beautiful city.”
“WE WILL STAND ARM IN ARM, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. No sheets, no umbrellas. We can have some signs, but I want them all directed at SHOWING LOVE FOR THE FAMILIES AND NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROTESTERS!!”
Coordinators of the demonstration ask that participants remain peaceful and avoid confrontation with Westboro members.
“MOST IMPORTANTLY, You must be able to maintain a level head during this. WBC is notorious for baiting people into a confrontation, and then they sue. This includes verbal confrontations! If you do not think you will be able to control your temper in the face of their nonsense, please stay home and send only moral support! We will remain calm, silent, and peaceful.”
According to the Facebook event page, the human wall will operate from June 22 to June 28.
From The Council of Conservative Citizens website:
The Westboro Baptist Church [WBC] is denouncing State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who is one of the nine victims of the Charleston spree killing. They say that God willed him to be killed because of his support for “lying politicians.” WBC called Pickney a “lying whore false prophet.” Pinckney was the Reverend of the church where the massacre took place.
They have vowed to protest the funeral of Clementa Pickney and other victims.
WBC says they will hold signs reading “Your Pastor is a Whore,” “Your Pastor is a Liar,” and “God Takes Your Peace.”
The WBC is based in Kansas and has about three dozen members. Much of the membership is related. The former leader, Fred Phelps died last year. In the 70s, Fred Phelps was a civil rights attorney and won awards from the NAACP. However, he was disbarred in 1979. In the 80s, he was a campaign worker for Al Gore.
Later he began holding increasingly bizarre protests. Starting around 2005, he began protesting funeral for US soldiers.
Fred Phelps had 13 children, 54 grandchildren. He already had 7 great-grandchildren when he died. These descendants make up the bulk of the WBC.
..."Fred Phelps had 13 children, 54 grandchildren. He already had 7 great-grandchildren when he died. These descendants make up the bulk of the WBC"...
