Hundreds outside Shawnee Mission East stage counterprotest to Fred Phelps

[meegbear]

If the lessons were tolerance and peaceful political action, it was clear Thursday that hundreds of people had signed up for the course outside Shawnee Mission East High School.

Upon learning that members of Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church planned to protest at the school, students acted quickly — and on their own — to mount a counterprotest showing their disdain for the church’s anti-gay message.

The students, along with like-minded parents and other adults, gathered at 75th Street and Mission Road, swelling onto three corners of the Prairie Village intersection. The Phelps group was confined to the fourth corner.

Students held signs reading, "God is love," "God does not hate" and "No hate in P.V."

Westboro members believe that God is punishing America for tolerating homosexuality. They have drawn harsh criticism across the nation for picketing at the funerals of servicemen and servicewomen.

Nor did the church’s tactics sit well with students at Shawnee Mission East, where, according to student Jake Davidson, there is a Gay and Straight Alliance and students elected a homecoming king in 2007 who was gay.

"Everyone is equal, whether you’re gay or straight," said Davidson, a 16-year-old junior from Leawood and an organizer of the student protest.

Laura Reida, 20, and a student at Emporia State University, said she drove from Emporia to participate. She held a sign reading, "Jesus wouldn’t hate. Why should you?"

Anita Parsa, a 43-year-old Mission Hills resident, held up a sign she had made.

"I’m just tired of hate," she said.

The Kansas chapter of the Human Rights Campaign brought about 30 members to rally with the students.

Several students were taking donations for AIDS research with a goal of raising $250 for every minute the Phelps group stood across the street.

"We’re going over that goal now," said Alexxus Abreu, a 17-year-old senior wearing a T-shirt that read "God loves me" and carrying a bucket of donations.

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http://www.kansascity.com/703/story/1020190.html

:woohoo:

[Fovea]

1. This is the Kansas that the book

What's the Matter with Kansas?

was about. Looks like it has a brighter future than its recent past.

[DarkTirade]

2. Using it to raise money for AIDS research... now that is just bloody brilliant.

Using Phelps' own vitriol against his cause... I like these kids' style.