‘Angel Action’ against Westboro Church is a sign of hope in Arizona
The Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kansas has announced they will protest the funeral of Christina Green, the nine-year-old victim of the Tucson shootings. The church attempts to gain publicity by picketing the funerals of people who died from AIDS and soldiers who died in war. Their purpose is to spread their anti-homosexual message. Often they hold up signs which says something akin to “Thank God for dead soldiers” along with some message condemning gays. Thus far the organization has not been met with any violent confrontations, but there is reason to worry this may not be the case in Arizona.
The Westboro Church has always upset the communities they visit, and more importantly the funeral attendees, however, they have never stepped into a story with this much emotion and publicity. When the Westboro Church attempts to protest the funeral of Christina Green, they will be doing so in the face of a community which is deeply upset, and necessarily angry over the senseless killings of their citizens. Many, right or wrong, have blamed the “vitriolic rhetoric”, for helping to cause the shootings in Tucson. Even the majority on the right would consider Westboro’s free speech “vitriolic”, and many more would say it could incite violence. Arizona also has some of the most relaxed gun laws in the country. A counter-protest could feature people with guns at their side shouting nose-to-nose with the members of the Westboro Church, who clearly have not demonstrated ability to remain civil. It is not hard to imagine how, if all tensions rise, another episode of violence could emerge.
Having sounded that note of caution, there is reason for the hope that non-violence will win the day. A woman named Christine Gilmer is organizing what is being called an “angel action” to oppose the Westboro Church. Their plan is to surround the church members 8-by-10 foot “angel wings” to shield the public from the hate speech of Westboro. Over 40 members of the communities have committed to the plan, and local businesses have chipped by donating materials. It is this kind of pro-active, non-violent action which may help to diffuse an otherwise explosive situation.
i cannot believe that church distorts the message THAT much. its insane to me. ugh and gross. there was a law passed within 90 minutes of their posting that they would be protesting outside this innocent girl’s funeral. that’s the kind of action i like to see in our government. sad to see that it took this situation to happen though.
