A group of high school students from Kansas City, MO were not pleased when members of the Westboro Baptist Church showed up on their campus to protest the recent election of a trans girl as homecoming queen.
Related: Gay YouTuber Phones Westboro Church’s Shirley Phelps. It Doesn’t Go Well.
Members of the hate group congregated outside Oak Park High School to wave their usual “God Hates Fags” signs and pose for selfies to upload to their Twitter page. However, they were soon met with a group of counter-protestors who carried signs that read “Westboro Baptist Church need Jesus” while they chanted “long live the queen!”
Related: These Westboro Baptist Protesters Are Very Excited About The Folsom Street Fair
The moment the hate group saw the mob of students heading their way, they realized they were vastly outnumbered, quickly packed up their signs, and ran to the safety of their minivan. As they peeled off down the street, students cheered in victory.
Watch the video below.
David Johnson
You wrote in Kansas City, MI. MI is Mississippi. This story happened in Kansas City Missouri, which is abbreviated MO. I woukd ask “who does your research?” But as this is a facebook article, one can assume “no one, ever”
Adrian Ornelas
I’ve been saying for years we need to just ignore the WBC they actually feed of this attention and have been for years luckily none of them even like vote or anything like that…
Ronnyboy
@David Johnson: Looks like he went back in and edited it at least.
Hendrick Coñate
There’s still hope for humanity.
Tobi
@David Johnson: Apropos nothing, I was watching an episode of The Network last night where exactly the same mistake was made!
Douglas Schlitz
Ignore the WBC and they will crawl back into their hole and disappear.
William Meyer
Creamsicle
Someone once suggested that whenever the wbc fails to show up for a planned protest they should be required to pay for the police protecton they request. I completely agree and think it would go a long way toward snuffing out their cult.
John Malin
You mean to tell me Westboro Whackos didn’t call on their God of Hate to smite?, smote? or whatever, the evil doer students?
Vanessa Forbes
Parents raising their kids to embrace all and not hate. Amazing!
Alex Rothwell
Good for them the students !
Jane Elliott
good for the Students
MacAdvisor
As abhorrent as the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is — and they are just the lowest of the low — I am not comfortable with silencing them through intimidation. Not all that long ago, gays protesting for civil rights were considered the perverts and disgusting. Our protests were often stopped with intimidation and force. The real answer to WBC is not shut them down and blocking their protests, but true counter protests, one’s that respect WBC’s right to be there, not forcing them to leave. Protecting only societal-approved speech is not free speech.
Scott McIntosh
Yes where was the WBG god and why doesnt he smite, smote, smoot their opponents – could it be that he doesnt exist?
Scott Barrett
knowledge bombs
@David Johnson: MI is Michigan, not Mississippi. You should make sure your facts are correct when correcting others.
Mister Salty
@David Johnson: Not to nitpick, but MI is Michigan. Mississippi is MS!
Also wanted to add: God does NOT hate fags, but does disapprove of vertical video.
msc1208
@David Johnson: actually MI is Michigan and Mississippi is MS.
Greg Labuz Sr.
WWJD? Well, I don’t think he was portrayed as a leader of a hate group. So I would suspect he would have joined with the students ð???
paul dorian lord fredine
have to wonder where their steadfast faith that god is on their side and, i presume they feel they are under his protection, why the feeling they need to run away? doesn’t say much for their faith, does it?
Delmore
@David Johnson: Who does their research? MI is Michigan while Mississippi is MS. I do love irony.
nmharleyrider
@MacAdvisor: Oh please, those people are the worst type of Christians and they get what they deserve for the hate they preach. Nobody got hurt and had they wanted to stand their ground they could have. It just goes to show what a bunch of cowards they really are.
Harriet Neal
not everyone in kansas is crazy.
lonelywolf39
Good, it’s about time those hateful “Christians” got what they deserved. Keep running assholes.
Dakotahgeo
@David Johnson: Thank you, David! I, myself, am from Kansas City, Kansas and it was quite evident the Qweerty jokers had their heads up their nether regions…AGAIN! Someone needs a quality control/spell checker person at Queerty!
scotshot
@Adrian Ornelas: @Douglas Schlitz: @Creamsicle:
As the article stated, several hundred Oak Park students Counter-protested. Westboro left. Nonviolent. Perfect.
Creamsicle: If Westboro had to pay to protest everyone would have to pay, a restriction of speech.
Jim McHardy
Great work students the Baptists need to find God. God is love for all.
scotshot
@MacAdvisor:
Westboro has protested for over 25 years and intimidation has been one of their tactics. People were afraid to confront them.
In this instance they may have felt intimidated but tough shit. Everyone has the right to protest / counter protest. The Oak park students protest was nonviolent and that’s what counts.
Regarding the police intimidating and using force on gay protesters? It was accepted in the past. Homosexuality was a societal taboo and many states and cities had laws against homosexuality – yes it was illegal to even “breathe” gay back then.
Yes, Westboro had every right to protest, They also had every right to leave. No one was threatening them. It was nonviolent.
Tricia L B
@David Johnson: MI is not Mississippi. MI is Michigan.
I guess it’s an easy mistake to make, right?
1EqualityUSA
knowledge bomb this comment you left was so much fun.
silveroracle
Religion rears its ugly head yet again.
Giancarlo85
@MacAdvisor: Wrong. I think we need to ban certain speech as it poses an imminent danger to people. This is what they do in other developed countries. And in some cases, it happens in America.
And these high school students weren’t intidimating anyone. They were voicing their views of opposition and the little shits couldn’t handle it.
BlueDude
@MacAdvisor: From what I can tell, WBC-tards weren’t “forced to leave”, but did so out of prudence. They had every right to stay, and be the hateful “chrish-chen” miscreants they always are. This scene is one of the best victory events EVER! Congrats to the students!!!
lonelywolf39
I’d like to see them pull that with fully armed marines
DJ_Gayburn
I get it, millennials are quite terrifying!!!
Kevin Wotipka
Every revolution needs its symbols. The WBC is our symbol for what we’re revolting against.
msfrost
@David Johnson: MI is Michagan, MS is Missippi, MA is Massachusetts, MO, is Missouri.
scotshot
@Giancarlo85:
I disagree regarding banning speech as it’s what makes America, America. Besides yelling fire in theaters which you
can’t do, people have the right to be able to voice their opinions no matter if we agree with them or not. Take away free
speech and we may as well live in Russia, Iran or China who all restrict speech.
A benefit of this is the fact that we know who are enemies are. That knowledge is power and has been instrumental in
claiming our rights.
1EqualityUSA
Freedom of expression must never be stifled. Everybody has ideas and the good ideas flourish. The bad ideas go extinct.
Giancarlo85
Certain speech is actually banned in the US and even moreso in other developed countries as it poses an imminent threat and danger to people. This is the case in many European countries. You need to reread what I said about imminent danger. Contrary to popular opinion, freedom of speech is not unlimited in America especially when it calls for violent action. Brandenburg v Ohio is a major example of this.
enfilmigult
@MacAdvisor: Oh, I don’t know. It’s not like they showed up running and swinging baseball bats. The only thing that defines it as “intimidation” is what the WBC did (get intimidated and leave), not what the kids did (stage a counter-protest).
clarinetJWD
@David Johnson: MI is Michigan. If you’re going to correct and insult someone for not doing their research, you should try to make sure you have it right.
Giancarlo85
I must add I am not sure if the Supreme Court still sticks with Brandenburg as case law, but I think it could be used against WBC because they are threatening violence.
Donal23
“Peeled out down the street”? They must have watched a different video than I did heh.
Glinda
@MacAdvisor: The WBC deserved everything they got. These kids were not in the least violent, they simply gave them a dose of their own medicine, good for them! I thought the protest was well organized, and the peace was kept, and the kids had EVERY right to voice their freedom of speech. Well done!
wwaisath
@scotshot: There is a fallacy here. They would not be paying to assemble or speak, they would be paying for the police department’s resources in being present at an assembly (which is not required for assembly or speech).
scotshot
@wwaisath: I believe if a group is planning a march or gathering – like Gay Pride – that they would have to get a permit and pay for the police, but how do they collect fees from spontaneous events. They can’t.
I have done no research on this and will stop here so I don’t make a fool of myself. feel free to Google yourself on this subject.
grumpbot
@MacAdvisor: I don’t see intimidation there, unless the fact that lots of people disagree with you and want you to know it is “intimidation”. I didn’t see anyone “fleeing in terror”, unless it’s terror of social change as represented by the youth of this school overwhelmingly and clearly rejecting the bigotry that the WBC holds dear. WBC’s rights to free speech *were* protected. Security/police were there. Nobody attacked anyone except for via ideas. Nobody gets protection and coddling from having to hear how wrong other people think they are. They get protection from persecution by the government and equal protection of the law… just like everyone else.
vbplayer42
David Johnson left too.. another tool that wants to correct people to make himself feel important but didn’t do his research either. I think getting rid of WBC is a good thing. Yay to the students.
explicit_lyrics
@David Johnson: The postal abbreviation MI is Michigan, not Mississippi. Mississippi’s abbreviation is MS. I think you could probably use some additional research too.
SVrij
Not sure why ppl think Westboro wouldn’t vote. They are very political as you can see in this photo of the Phelps family & AL & Tipper Gore.http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l-ANADr115s/TSoL4eTtgRI/AAAAAAAAANc/sNeAQVGEW5g/s320/al_gore_fred_phelps.jpg
SVrij
@Adrian Ornelas: they are VERY political & vote http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l-ANADr115s/TSoL4eTtgRI/AAAAAAAAANc/sNeAQVGEW5g/s320/al_gore_fred_phelps.jpg
drucifer82
@David Johnson: I love the irony of people who say :”It’s not x, it’s y! Do your research” and are totally wrong. MI is Michigan. MS is Mississippi. LOL
retnicole
@David Johnson: If you’re going to complain that no one does their research, at least get your own information right, goofball.
Sincerely, Michigan. (MI)
Lewgad
@David Johnson: MI is actually Michigan. MS is what you were going for.
nichili
@David Johnson: Except Mississippi is MS, not MI which is Michigan. The more you know.
adelazero
@David Johnson: I’m afraid… Oh, wait, nevermind. Others have done that for me.
adelazero
@David Johnson: But anyway, I and O are right next to each other on the keyboard. However, I and S are not.
switcher
If WBC wants to do what the Bible says, they should be public praying for those involved in their cause, not preying on those involved in their cause.
NYtoSF
If kids can do this why doesn’t this happen at military funerals ?
Bikers have been known to show up & drown out chants during funerals. Why not CHASE them off too. Who’s going to cast the first stone ? Me,,Me,,ME !
scotshot
NOTE: MISSOURI AND SEVERAL OTHER STATES HAVE ENACTED LAWS THAT PREVENT PICKETING CLOSE TO FUNERALS. MISSOURI’S IS 300 FEET AWAY, IT VARIES IN OTHER STATES.
THEY CANNOT PICKET AN HOUR BEFORE AND AN HOUR AFTER SERVICES.
TO BAN THEM PICKETING IN OTHER PLACES, IN THIS CASE A SCHOOL, HAS BEEN RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL. IF WE WISH TO BE HEARD WE ALSO HAVE TO HEAR THEM.
KittenKat
@David Johnson: Mississippi is MS
KittenKat
@KittenKat: I didn’t realize the replied comments show up like is lol I see a few people already said that, my bad 🙂
kittyconrad
@David Johnson: At the risk of piling on, not only did you “correct” someone else with your own wrong state abbreviation, you also misspelled “would.”
flexdoc
A group of counter protestors need to beat the crap out of these Westboro people . Do it enough and they’ll stay home.