Community Calmly Counters Westboro Protest

Community Calmly Counters Westboro Protest

By Chris Weidman, of the W&M Flat Hat Saturday, September 25, 2010

Three women from the Westboro Baptist Church protested the funeral of fallen American soldier 1st Lt. Todd Weaver, a Bruton High and William and Mary graduate, early Saturday afternoon. Weaver was killed in Afghanistan Sept. 9.

The church members from Topeka, Kansas, displayed signs near the Williamsburg Community Chapel, where a memorial for Weaver was held at 2 p.m. The demonstration took place at the corner of John Tyler Highway and Eagle Way, adjacent to Jamestown High School.

The chants and placards of the Westboro Baptist Church members were met with a larger counter-protest of over 100 people, including students from the College of William and Mary and members of the Patriot Guard, who displayed signage in favor of patriotism as well as American troops. Residents of neighborhoods along John Tyler Highway stood on their streets to show support for the United States.

The protest was peaceful with a strong police presence monitoring the gathering.

Comments

0 #14 Guest 2010-10-06 10:29

you guys protested in hopes of your pic to show up on a website?

sorry i couldnt make it, i havent been to a rally since my mom let me trample on a US flag in public.

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+1 #13 Guest 2010-09-27 09:07

I totally agree with bad form...the above photo should be removed..the turnout of supporters for the family was overwhelming and respectful, that is what is worthy of the coverage, not the 1% turnout WYDaily is showing. Disappointing.

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+3 #12 Guest 2010-09-27 07:57

Maybe if the press put all of their focus on the protestors protesting this scum, the scum would just dry up and blow away! Kudos to all those who stood up to this abuse of "freedom of speach".

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+16 #11 Guest 2010-09-26 18:45

I was there! I have to say the I was very proud with the turnout of williamsburg to counter-act the protestors. after the westboro cult left--i went over and spoke to some of the patriot guard and overheard them saying that " It was a good turnout, and more than what they had expected in williamsburg"! maybe that what the westboro cult thought as well. maybe they thought they were just coming to a little old town of williamsburg. everytime they chanted, the crowd overwhelmed them, everytime they sung.. the crowd overwhelmed them .. finally they give up and leave. to the folks that were there waving their flags, holding their signs, singing patriotic songs, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

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+24 #10 Guest 2010-09-26 15:06

badform is spot on. WYDaily, with respect, you showed one photo of the event, and it was the most sensational you could find. Were the throngs of people supporting Lt Weaver and America not worthy of at least a peer sized photo? I would argue that it was worth MORE, why? Simply put, you played into the hands of the nasty people. They seek publicity, and oh, over a hundred showed up on our side of this, but our local press chose to cover them. They therefore get the coverage they wanted. VERY BAD FORM.

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+17 #9 Guest 2010-09-26 15:04

I think there should have been photo's of the counter-protest ors that showed up (at least 150) and of the Patriot Guard Riders. And shame on that Kansas "church": they are children of the devil, not of God.

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+18 #8 Guest 2010-09-26 11:19

Thank you, Lord, for our town people for supporting and uplifting this family during their loss and grief. We pray for those who need healing from their erroneous views. Amen.

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+13 #7 Guest 2010-09-26 10:10

I offer my thanks to the Patriot Riders for the privilege of standing with them and the loan of a big flag to supplement my little ones. I came to honor our local hero and support his family and ended up with a lifelong memory. I also found Lt. Weaver's Memorial Service to be a tribute to a wonderful person and a patriotic inspiration.

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+21 #6 Guest 2010-09-26 08:39

I usually like WYDaily's coverage of stories, however I have to say it's bad form for them to show images of the protesters as they have. This is the type of sensationalist reporting that I so despise in the press, plus in a very real way it's giving victory to the outsiders by promoting their message of hate, and it's being disrespectful to the family and the community who want to support the family. Bad, bad form WYDaily.

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+13 #5 Guest 2010-09-26 08:01

I am beyond appalled at this cold hearted act of protesting the war at a fallen soldiers funeral. That very man, or woman, put their life on the line for your FREEDOM! That freedom in turn provides you w/ the right to think that something like this was a good idea, and the FREEDOM to act on it. You can stand against the war w/o standing against our troops. They have agreed to honor & serve our country, putting their lives before our own. How dare you spit on their very existence while the air of freedom continues to surge through your veins!!

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