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Updated: 10:39 AM May 23, 2008
Marching for Equality
photographer: Josh Mabry The tables were turned on Westboro Baptist Church members Sunday. Posted: 11:53 PM Mar 30, 2008Reporter: Stephanie Ramos Email Address: stephanie.ramos@wibw.com  Marching for Equality |
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TOPEKA, KS - The Phelps Family, leaders of the Westboro Baptist Church, known for their anti-war and anti-homosexual protests, faced protesters against them Sunday.
Nearly 500 people from all over the nation traveled to Topeka to spread their message of diversity and acceptance of all people regardless of their sexual orientation. A message directed toward the Westboro Baptist Church and its leader Fred Phelps.
Those that gathered say they want to send a clear message to Fred Phelps that it's time to stop the hateful messages.
The Phelps family and Westboro Baptist Church members do not believe it's hate that they preach.
"They only say that because they haven't cracked open the Bible and read. God is about the most intolerent guy you can think of. You talk about the guy who is the head of discrimination a guy who lays down the most boundaries and standards, this is his creation. These people need to create their own world..get their own God. For 17 long years we have stood on the streets of doomed America. Everyone of these people gets to be a witness we have saturated this nation..this small church in Topeka, Kansas," says Shirley Phelps, Attorney for the Westboro Baptist Church and member.
Protester JD Stottlemaire says, "I'm from Topeka and many years ago the Phelps said to me you'll be gone some day and I'll still be here. I'm still here Phelps let's keep going another lap. I feel bad for the Phelps they carried a sign that said the seige is coming, very self destructive, my hopes would be that that family gets away from that ill man. We all have permission to to use our voice. 418 individuals showed up, homosexuals, heterosexuals, pro-war..Topeka is really starting to have a voice besides Fred's voice. Couldn't be gladder to be here."
Protester Joseph Coachman says, I'm here to add my presence as a physical voice. Fred does not speak for the Christian faith and that there are many Christian people that are open and accepting. The root of the gospel is not hate."
Shirley Phelps says, "the way I feel about the march, I just love it because its a fresh fruit different kind of approach by those that oppose us."
The protesters hope their message of love and equality spreads to others.
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I am sick of everyone saying that they are anti war. They are not an anti war group, they are an anti gay group that protests soldiers funerals, because they say that they died protecting a nation that embraces homosexuality. They have nothing against the actual war, in fact they are for it, because they like when people die.
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"QUOTE: They only say that because they haven't cracked open the Bible and read." HAHA!, would only a complete and total fool believe that God's intolerance of homosexuals was mentioned in the Holy Bible. That fake church doesn't know anything about tolerance. Well I hope the Phelps are proud of themselves because they have embarrassed so many baptists and now, not just America, but the world sees them as the devil's puppets. I have heard about the patriot guard riders that block them from army funerals' sights and louden their engines to cover their chants. But I wanna see a rock band play a loud gig right in front of the Phelps' protesters. Loud enough to make them drop their hateful protest signs to cover their ears.
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I give 100% support to those protesting against Phelps. My dad has served in the military my entire life and now he is serving Iraq, and I could never be more proud of him then I am today. And I truly believe that we should all let God judge who we are, not Phelps. I'm glad to see that there are people who will stand up to people like Fred Phelps. I wish I could have been there!
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