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Flash Mob Protests Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist: Charleston, WV

by Jacob Zinn | March 31, 2010 at 10:43 am

2947 views | 2 Recommendations | 11 comments

A flash mob organizing on Facebook plans to protest the Westboro Baptist Church when the infamous Topeka, Kansas congregation arrives in West Virginia next week.

Amy Weintraub, the executive director of Covenant House, is organizing a dancing mob to counter Westboro’s demonstration outside the University of Charleston from April 8 to 10. So far, 30 people are planning to participate, but Weintraub is hoping for 80.

The dance is meant to show the city’s acceptance of all races and religions in contradiction to Westboro’s message.

We want to celebrate the inclusiveness of our community,” she said. “There are a lot of people who really do celebrate the diversity of Charleston and are willing to do so publicly.

Weintraub wouldn’t disclose what song the flash mob would dance to, but she said a professional choreographer would teach the dance steps to those involved this week.

Related Stories:

Westboro Baptist Church Holding Protests All Over Charleston

The controversial church, led by pastor Fred Phelps, is known for rallying against gays, Jews, Catholics and Mennonites. It plans to also protest outside the Temple Israel, the B’nai Jacob Synagogue and the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Charleston, the capital of West Virginia.

The group is also scheduled to picket outside Charleston Catholic High School, but Principal Debora Sullivan said it would be pointless because the students will be on their Easter break.

Westboro, which travels across North America holding these protests, is not affiliated with any other Baptist church.

Charleston Makes Signs Mocking Westboro Baptist Church

To counter Westboro’s picket signs that read “God Hates Obama” or “God Hates the USA,” 22-year-old student Mona Mayes is planning a secondary protest with such satirical signs as “God Hates Twitter.” More than 100 people have joined her Facebook group.

The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is also making signs and distributing them freely to people who object to Westboro’s presence in Charleston. They are encouraged to display the signs in their front yard or window to show support for the local community.

What we want to get across is that we stand with our neighbors, whoever they may be, whatever their beliefs might be and however God may have made them,” said Steve Roberts, president of the chamber of commerce.

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LongLiveLenin (not verified)

at 17:27 on March 31st, 2010

Death to the Westboro Baptist Bigots! They have no right to come to Charleston, WV, which believe it or not, is LGBT friendly (for a Bible belt town)!!!Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay, Right Wing Bigots Go Away!!!

susan haas (not verified)

at 22:19 on March 31st, 2010

Freedom of speech, Freedom of thinking DOES INCLUDE RESPECTING DIVERSITY AND THE ABILITY TO AGREE TO DISAGREE WITHOUT DISCRIMINATING, ENCOURAGING AND TEACHING HATE, KILLING, THIS CHURCH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ENEMY TO AMERICA'S GOVT AND THE AMERICAN CITIZANS

jeff carroll (not verified)

at 11:10 on April 1st, 2010

how do i sign up?

Ann E (not verified)

at 13:23 on April 7th, 2010

Want to sign up? Just keep being as closed-minded as you are now and drink the kool-aid. That should do it.

jeffrie carroll (not verified)

at 06:17 on April 8th, 2010

wow...you are a cunt...i meant sign up for the flash mob...dont be so quick with the hate

jeffrie.carroll (not verified)

at 11:10 on April 1st, 2010

how do i sign up

Bobo Marine (not verified)

at 16:23 on April 1st, 2010

The Westboro baptists are workers of the Devil--People should demonstrate at every chance they get where ever these devils are and carry burning torches and burn devils puppets representing the westboro baptists....

Richard Wolford (not verified)

at 07:20 on April 5th, 2010

All religions are fairy tales, I look forward to protesting these idiots. And no Bobo, I will NOT burn puppets representing these people, that's sick.

Realist (not verified)

at 04:17 on April 8th, 2010

Their only purpose is to get on the news. If we don't put them on TV and ignore them, they'll stop showing up. The best defense is to not go anywhere near their protest so that nobody sees their signs, that would really honk them off.

Go Hide In The Corner! (not verified)

at 15:16 on April 8th, 2010

You anti-Phelps protestors should bow down and thank him for generating sympathy for you. If Phelps were not busy being a crazy baffoon, you would not have any defense of your degenerate life style other than "If it feels good, do it." Fred Phelps is just a ruder version of yourselves who is using reverse psychology to get people to sympathize with degenerates like you. Lol. It's working, but your lifestyles are catching up with you at the same time so Lol again.

Eva Carr (not verified)

at 18:26 on April 8th, 2010

I think the haters can kiss my ass,if I see any of you son of a bitchs up in my kneck of the woods YOU will be pushin up daises...haters..go to hell!!!!And if ya dont like the USA flag go to pakistan you basterds...