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Brooklyn to Westboro Protesters: Fuhgetaboutit

BROOKLYN TECHNICAL SCHOOL X390 (DANIEL ALASTAIR NORMAN FAIR USE) | ADVOCATE.COM

Hundreds of students from Brooklyn Technical High School drove back a protest on Thursday from five members of the Westboro Baptist Church, who left earlier than scheduled because they were severely outnumbered.

The Topeka, Kan.–based church led by Fred Phelps targeted the prestigious public high school in the Fort Greene neighborhood, as well as three synagogues, to teach them “what good looks like,” according to The New York Times.  

But the presence of nearly 200 students in a peaceful counterdemonstration overwhelmed the five protesters, who left the area 15 minutes before their protest, originally scheduled to last 40 minutes, was slated to conclude.

“Brian Benavides, a Brooklyn Tech student, said news of the Westboro protest had been spread among his classmates by word of mouth and through Facebook status,” reported The New York Times. “The alert evolved into a counterprotest.”

New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn, an out lesbian, was among the elected officials who issued statements condemning the Westboro Baptist Church for its hate speech.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Steve H.
    Date posted: 10/1/2009 12:56:59 PM
    Hometown: Monee, Il.

    Comment:

    Personally - I love the Phelps!!!! They show the world just how hatefilled religous extremists behave. It shows the world just how totally illogical the religous wingnuts are. The Phelpses are the face of Christian extremism. Shine the light and let the world see how hatefilled and wrong they are.

  • Name: Fred
    Date posted: 10/1/2009 8:11:12 AM
    Hometown: Brooklyn

    Comment:

    What I really would love to see and even cheer the Westboro baptist Church to do is to go to Saudi Arabia and carry a big "God Hate Muslims" sign. I would love to see what happens to them. Really. maybe the Muslims would cut off their arms for carrying those signs.

  • Name: ArtNOLA
    Date posted: 9/28/2009 9:38:02 AM
    Hometown: New Orleans

    Comment:

    Now if we can just drive them out of the country or preferrably, off of the planet.

  • Name: Johnny
    Date posted: 9/27/2009 3:19:00 PM
    Hometown: Dallas

    Comment:

    Honestly, when I heard about this family several years ago, I was maddened. These people certainly aren't good, holy or Christ like. One of the first signs of their evilness is the picketing of soldiers funerals and a lot of other anti God acts they have done. When will these people learn that God loves each and everyone of us....I don't believe that God wanted us to be all from the same cookie cutter......that would be a very boring world. God loves each and everyone of us just as we are unconditionally. The Phelps keep people from knowing the love of Christ by their evil actions as well as a bunch of other bigots.....Why don't they picket jails and prisons because of the killers and bad people in them....a lot of gay people are gentle loving caring and want peace in this world instead of hate and malice....can we say the same for the Phelps? Hate kills.....love creates love.....

  • Name: Ralph
    Date posted: 9/25/2009 3:11:31 PM
    Hometown: Countryside, IL

    Comment:

    Great job y'all. You ran them out of town. Keep up the good work.

  • Name: John Santoianni
    Date posted: 9/25/2009 2:47:28 PM
    Hometown: Anaheim, CA

    Comment:

    I graduated from Brooklyn Tech and it feels good to see the new generation taking such bold steps for equality.

  • Name: Chris
    Date posted: 9/25/2009 2:44:36 PM
    Hometown: Memphsi

    Comment:

    These kids have given me hope for the future.

  • Name: Ginelle
    Date posted: 9/25/2009 12:00:53 PM
    Hometown: British Columbia, Canada

    Comment:

    Looks good on these Westboro hate peddlers. Obviously, the strength in numbers by the students had the desired affect in sending these religious wingnuts on their way! It is heart warming, especially seeing young people, who are our future, move away from the so called traditional religious teachings and misinterpretations and recognize that Jesus Christ's love included all mankind. Let the momentum continue, next stop Washington, D.C. on October 9th to 11 for the National Equality March!



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