I confess, I’m of two minds about the upcoming visitation from members of the Westboro (Kansas) “Baptist” Church. One mind knows that the cure for hate speech is more speech, a public demonstration that the community at large does not accept the values being expressed, and will stand up and protect whatever principle or group is being attacked without reason. The Niemoeller quote (and its permutations) is relevant here (“First they came …”). Although, a strong argument could be made that by being more-or-less equal opportunity haters (“We hate everybody God Hates, and God hates everybody but us!”), the Westboro folks are in no real danger of ever achieving the influence of a national political party — at least, I haven’t heard yet that the national Republican Party has embraced their beliefs, applied to become members, or invited Pastor Phred himself to join the councils of the GOP faithful.
My other mind’s opinion is somewhat reflected in the message issued by the Honorable Mary Hooper, Mayor of Montpelier, on behalf of the Montpelier City Council, with good advice and sound reasoning for how the citizens of Montpelier and other guests can best deal with the visitation of the hate-mongers from Phred’s Phamily Phollowers (h/t to Sheryl; emphases mine). However, I bridle at the idea that counter demonstrations should not be held in the interests of “public safety.” Historically, city and state governments can and will justify the suppression of free speech “in the interests of public safety.” Still, is silence always to be construed as assent? Why give Phred’s Phamily what they want?
I definitely would rather have the headline of the day be “Gay Couples Celebrate Equality in Marriage” than any message of hate from Phred’s Phear-Mongers.
Mayor Mary S. Hooper
on behalf of the Montpelier City Council
and City Manager William Fraser
As has been widely publicized, members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kansas will be visiting Montpelier on Tuesday morning, September 1st to protest the enactment of Vermont’s gay marriage legislation. The group plans to conduct three separate 30-minute demonstrations at Montpelier High School (7:20 AM to 7:55 AM), in front of the Vermont State House (7:55 AM to 8:25 AM), and at Montpelier City Hall (8:30 AM to 9:00 AM).A small group of ten or fewer church members will hold signs and, likely, chant slogans and songs to express their religious and moral beliefs. These signs and slogans are purposely designed to be highly offensive, insulting, and hurtful. They seek to provoke others into angry confrontations and to possibly bait others into breaking the law.
The City of Montpelier condemns the Westboro Baptist Church’s message of hate. Surely our high school students, citizens and visitors deserve better than to be subjected to nasty messages denouncing primarily gay people but also Jews, Catholics, fallen soldiers, President Obama, and the United States of America.
We are fortunate to live in a country where citizens are guaranteed the right to free speech and free assembly. The City of Montpelier fully recognizes and respects the rights of the Westboro Baptist Church and will take proper action to assure that those rights are honored and that public safety is preserved.
It may be tempting to confront and challenge this group verbally, physically, or in some form of silent counter protest. In the interest of public safety and order, however, the City government of Montpelier urges people to please ignore this group and simply stay away from the demonstrations.
WHY STAY AWAY?
First, the Westboro Baptist Church is not visiting to engage in a discussion, forum or intellectual exchange about issues. They are here to shock, provoke and proclaim their views. A counter demonstration is exactly what the Church members hope to create; the larger the crowd the more publicity they generate and the more their message ends up on television and in newspapers. They announce their schedule in advance for the sole reason of giving people time to create a stir. Assembling against them is playing directly into their hands. Through its legislative actions, Vermont has already made a strong and important statement against discrimination.
More — plus poll — after the flip.
Second, and perhaps most importantly, there are very real public safety concerns – particularly at the High School – if crowds arrive to counter demonstrate. Montpelier High School rules and policy are clear that no one is allowed on school property during school hours except students, staff, parents and those having authorized business with the school. As such, both the Westboro Baptist Church AND any potential counter protesters are required to hold their demonstrations on the Bailey Avenue sidewalks. The intersection of the High School driveway and Bailey Avenue is very busy and hazardous on normal school days. Adding large numbers of demonstrators to this area could create safety problems for the students, demonstrators, other pedestrians, and vehicular traffic. People should not risk injury to themselves or others just to prove a point. Police and school officials will assist students with getting to class safely and uneventfully. Please assist with this process by staying clear of this area.
Third, demonstrations by the Westboro Baptist Church around the country have had a consistent outcome – the people most likely to get arrested, commit a crime, or get in trouble are counter demonstrators. The church members are professional demonstrators who visit different sites on a daily basis. They utilize attorneys, cameras, and ample advance event planning. They are well versed on permissible legal limits and do not cross them. Conversely, individuals or ad hoc groups who arrive to confront the Church usually have good intentions of staying calm and within legal bounds but are frequently not well organized and allow themselves to be caught up in the moment and baited into actions resulting in their arrest. No one will get arrested if no one shows up. Please do not reward a message of hate with an intolerant or illegal response.For those who feel they must make some sort of counter statement or appearance, we urgently request that you do so at the State House Lawn where there is much more room to keep parties separated and does not present the same traffic and safety hazards.
The Westboro Baptist Church group is scheduled to leave Montpelier by 9:00 AM on Tuesday. People are well advised to consider planning any necessary visits to City Hall, the Department of Motor Vehicles, other State Street offices, and the Credit Union accordingly. By simply waiting until after 9:00 AM, one can easily avoid being subjected to offensive signs, hearing insulting chants/songs, getting caught in traffic, or inadvertently engaging in some sort of confrontation. Those employed in and around these areas should take note of the schedule and consider potential alternate arrival routes or times.
We thank everyone in advance for their cooperation. The community of Montpelier has a tradition of generosity, engagement and thoughtful dialogue. We ask that you rise above and show this group the attention they deserve – none.
[Update: I hear that R.U.1.2? Queer Community Center in Burlington is encouraging folks to pledge some amount for each minute the WBC folks are in the state. Good idea! — NanuqFC]
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Phelps is one of our best allies. By revealing the extremist face of homophobia, he is an embarrassment to bigots. As long as he does so without violence or threat, he is welcome to carry his message wherever it will make sane people cringe. Any attempt to restrict him, engage him, respond to him or otherwise allow him to influence in any way, shape, or form, legitimizes him.
If he had any influence, any power, anything other than the ability to piss people off, I’d view him otherwise, but it’s only through our responses to him that he gains any attention whatsoever. Let him wither and rot on the vine. This day is ours, and I’m not prepared to let him take it from me.
Don’t let them grab the spotlight. Our best response is to gather with friends in OTHER locations to celebrate the true significance of this historic day. It isn’t their day; don’t let them make it be all about them.
The city, school administrators, and police have gotten the message out to ignore the WBC. Several groups have decided to cancel any plans for a counter-demonstration which would specifically address the hate group based on advice from the city. As far as I can tell, most people will ignore it and support the MHS fundraiser to GLAD, with some going to the Statehouse to celebrate marriage equality.
Yes, the WBC funds their travel through lawsuits and ignoring them makes them go away faster because they don’t get the media response they want. Yet ignoring them sends a pretty vague message too. Are we saying, “you’re irrelevant to us?,” “we don’t legitimize you?,” “we don’t think you’re important enough to speak out against?,” “we don’t address hate?”.
Most undoubtedly these people are crazy and represent the fringes of society. Yet their message does get out and lots more than the 7-10 people who show up on Tuesday agree with them in a spectrum of hateful ways — from extremes like Matthew Shepard’s murder to the kid called a fag in the gym locker room.
I’m a little ashamed to think I might actually have to say that when hate came to Montpelier, we chose to do nothing because we had the privilege to ignore it.
…there’s a wrong answer here. Some people’s consciences/worldviews will compel them to ignore – others will be compelled to counterprotest.
If everyone just does what they think is right (and give each other the room to do same), it’ll work out for the best, I think.
The best way to confront Fred Phelps hand his anti-gay cult — and make no mistake about it, Westboro is a CULT, not a CHURCH — is to let the world know about his dirty sorded past that he and his family don’t want the world to know — a dirrty secret that renders their entire “God Hates Fags” campaign a hypocritical FRAUD.
Here’s the weapon: A massive expose of Westboro that was first published by Phelps’ hometown newspaper, the Topeka Capital-Journal, and picked by my blog, “The ‘Skeeter Bites Report.”
You can read it here:
http://www.skeeterbitesreport….
Print it out and distribute as many copies of it as you are able.
Whatever people do, I hope they will contact any media that they are in regular discussions with (some of us more than others) to point out that the media “air time” should not be 50/50 as there are 7-10 cult members and thousands of others who are opposed (whether they show up or not).
The emphasis should be on the main story, that love is being celebrated by thousands of Vermonters (GLB and not GLB) for the steps we are taking towards equality.
What happens at any of the events is smaller than how it will be portrayed by the media. They tend to feel an obligation to give all sides equal treatment (number of quotes, facts repeated etc.) regardless of the reality of the scale of differences with respect to public opinion or size of crowds etc.
If people go to counter protest…I hope some will see to it that the counter protesters gather, strategize, pick some eloquent spokespeople (no need for them to be politicians by the way : ) and be “above” the hate mongers. Do not stoop to their level.
The fun idea I have heard is to surround them, and close in and just give them huge hugs and kisses and just make them feel uncomfortable, not with violence or hate, but love. I am not sure they could handle that. Is there anyone who knows if that approach has been used anywhere else they have shown up?
Who says counter-protests have to be confrontational? I’m not interested in engaging these wackos, or exposing their crimes against humanity, or encouraging their efforts through hugging, yelling, kissing or confrontation.
All I’m saying is: hate needs to be challenged, not ignored. It’s been a “personal crisis” moment to deal with the pressure of ignoring, but my heart says no. We’re smarter, we can end this, we can show another way.
Not showing up, ultimately shows nothing.
Instead, I will arrive with pom-poms and telethon props and encourage them to stay with humor and frivolous crowd control, so MHS can raise the most money possible. (right now at 2,242 members, that’s $14,000+).. then encourage people to help the haters stay at the Statehouse for $1 per minute for VT Freedom to Marry… then encourage people to help the haters go to City Hall and raise $1 for every minute for local queer-straight alliance groups (because our truly local groups need it the most).
This isn’t just about celebrating our victories or about giving them what they want. They got it already. The town, state, and media have already picked up on it. We’ve had lots of great community conversations. This is about challenging the hate that exists outside of our accepting little town. And challenging them without confrontation, because they aim to trigger. If you show up, bring your sense of humor.
Speaking as a Vermonter, and as a person who was formaly a member of the organizations Anti-Racist Action and the Green Mountain Collective, I would like to point a few things out.
First of all Vermont is blessed in not having organized fascist groups in our hills. However, folks should recognize that in much of the rest of the nation, such hate groups are very active, very violent, and dangerious. While organizing on behalf of labor and other leftist causes in places such as the midwest I have found that time and time again the only thing that shutsdown far right organizing drives is direct action and direct confrontation. When such groups are ignored, they and their sympathizers tend to feel empowered, and they tend to grow in numbers, gain support, and often become more violent.
Closer to home nazi groups tried to launch a recruting drive in Lewiston Maine (aimed against Somoli imigrants) a few years back, and they were effectivly driven out of town by mobs of angery citizens. And here it should be pointed out that Vermonters (from the Green Mountain Collective) lead that charge. At the end of the day 30 or so nazies where militantly confronted by hundreds of angery protesters, and their attempts to get a foothold in nortehrn New England completly failed.
Another example would be the similer nazi organizing attempts in York, PA, a year or so before Lewiston. There a couple hundred angery Black youth (from the local community) and members of Anti-Racist Action physicaly engaged 50 or so nazis, and again forced them permenently out of town. In a word, direct confrontation won the day, and kept York nazi free.
Getting back to Vermont, let us also recall that a couple years ago the Minutemen (not from Vermont) tried to organize a chapter in the Northeast Kingdom. Again, 50 Vermonters showed up to where they we suppoed to meet and protested. In turn the Minutemen decided not to meet on the green in Derby, and instead headed off to the bike path in Newport. There 8 or so Minutemen (from out of state) got lossed, and did not know which way north was. Back at the motel they were staying at (the Border Inn) they had their tires flattened and thier truck burried in trash with a note saying “flatlander go home” attached to their windshild. The result was some embarresing articles (for the Minutemen) in locals VT papers, the Boston Globe, and the Washington Post. They recruited NO Vermonetrs to their cause, and NEVER came back to Vermont.
Now I’m not saying that these nuts from KS are nessesarily worthy of such a response, I’m just saying that the startagy of ignoring fascisits does not work. That road just empowers them. And again, the last time history allowed fascists to control the streets, we ended up with Hitler controling Germany. –And again, these nuts, if they are simply ignored, are not a great threat to our Vermont way of life in and of themselves, but even so, I think it is right to confront them.
And finaly, there are many things that good folks can disagree on (be they Vermont Democrats, Progressives, Liberty Union, or even Republicans), but we can not allow the far and dangerious right (from in or out of state) control of the streets, even for a minute.
Solidarity.