Westboro strikes again
Most of us know about the Memorial Service at NIUs Convocation Center tonight at 7 p.m. There is much information about said service available here. Many of us might not know one of America’s more wretched and deplorable groups plans to descend on DeKalb tonight as well.
Huskie supporters gather to confront the Westboro Baptist Church
On Tuesday, February 19, the same group, the Westboro Baptist Church was expected at the corner of Lucinda and Normal Avenues in DeKalb. For those of you who don’t know, the Westboro Baptist Church is a Kansas-based “church” that claims just about every tragedy that befalls anyone in America, and elsewhere for that matter, is the wrath of God. What might we have done to incur such divine retribution? Well, tolerate the gays, of course.
Westboro and its founder Fred Phelps has garnered fame and media attention, mainly for protesting funerals of Iraq War fallen with signs boldly declaring such gems as: “God hates you”, “God hates fags”, and “America is doomed.” Their statement about the shooting on our campus is vile and I won’t link to it, feel free to use a Google assist if you have to see it but I must warn you it is quite disrespectful, to say the least.
On Tuesday, the group was a no-show. Despite this, a large crowd of NIU-faithful did gather on the corner of Lucinda and Normal, near the spontaneous memorial that has sprung up there. We were waiting for them, it was about 2 degrees. Tonight, they plan to be at the Convo, from 6-7 p.m., according to information posted on the group’s website.
Though they didn’t show up last time, all indications are that they intend to tonight. At least one local hotel has been contacted by the Westboro Baptist Church about rooms; they actually had the gall to identify themselves to the workers there. Police in Sycamore are prepared for the possibility that they may have to post officers to “protect (hotel) property” if the group stayed at any hotel in Sycamore.
To Phelps and his supporters I say, let us mourn, your answers are not answers at all. Lies and hatred wielded in the name of religion, meant to inflame and be divisive. Well, we do not subscribe to your narrow worldview in DeKalb, Sycamore or at NIU.
Tags: dekalb, niu, niushooting, sycamore, westborobaptistchurch