One of my heroines, Elizabeth Edward's funeral was today.
The hate filled Westboro Baptist Church, of Topeka, Kansas said that they would picket her funeral. Why?
I don't think anyone could discern why except that the hate mongers wanted pubicity.
But word spread of their planes, on Dailykos, other blogs and progressive radio talk shows. Even on Facebook, two groups were created to stand and protect Ms Edwards funeral. Noting their like purposes they then merged.
WBC sent three adults and 2 children to the funeral:
The funeral also attracted three adults and two children from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, a tiny, anti-gay religious group who spent an hour waving signs, including one read "Thank God for Cancer." The church, whose fight for the right to picket at the funerals of soldiers was argued in front of the Supreme Court earlier this month, were kept two blocks from the entrance to the church. Word of their protest set off an online organzing effort, and estimated 200 to 300 people to show up in the rain for a counter protest. Their signs read "Love" and "hero."
-- New York Times
The funeral was uninterrupted by WBC and because they could not effect what they wanted, they left.
This is not the first time a funeral that WBC was picketing was handled in this matter. VVarfrat's little seen diary from Nov 15, 2010, My town's victory against Westboro Baptist Church (edited), showed the model for this.
For funerals, this is what is needed from now on. Just the same protection and care from the onslaught and hate from Westboro Baptist Cult Church.
I wished I had gotten to meet Ms. Edwards. As a gamer I would have liked to play Boggle with her. And as much as I wanted to help protect her funeral I am up in Boston and could not. But to those who did, THANK YOU.
One was Rosie Bolin, 43, a lifelong Raleigh resident who didn’t know Mrs. Edwards. But after watching a series of interviews with Mrs. Edwards aired in the days after her death, Mrs. Bolin was inspired to show up.
"She was a local heroine," Ms. Bolin said. "She was such an example of grace under adversity. What a great example she set."
Ms. Bolin, I have to disagree, she wasn't just a local heroine. She was international.
Thank you for helping protect her funeral.
******
update: I left to pick up my son from work and upon my return saw my diary here. Thank you for the rec list.
update 2: I just caught up on the comments. Gemina13 's comment about why Elizabeth Edwards funeral was protested:
When they were visited from the Most High God with the death of their 16-year-old son, they did not humble themselves before His mighty hand. They reared up in rage, decided they would show God who is boss, and meddled in matters of the womb, resulting in 2 more children — now motherless.
--from the WBC flyer sent out this week, quoted on The Huffington Post
The full flyer can be found on HuffPo
Thank you Gemina13
update 3: be sure to read GlowNZ's tribute to Elizabeth Edwards, rec listed too.