A controversial Kansas-based church known for its inflammatory use of hate speech against everything from gays to the U.S. military picketed outside six Gainesville churches on Sunday, where they were met with growing numbers of counterprotesters preaching love and compassion.
About 20 members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka sang, chanted and waved signs outside the churches. Gainesville police said the incidents were peaceful and orderly. No arrests were made.
Counterprotesters from groups like Indivisible Lumpkin and the Hall County Young Democrats also waved signs and chanted messages of love and compassion at each of Westboro’s stops.
“I’m not a big fan of Westboro coming to my hometown,” Jordan Dorsey, a military veteran from Gainesville, said. “I stand for everything they are against, especially the protests and pickets of soldiers’ funerals. They picketed at the funerals of some of my friends who died in combat and this is the first time I’ve had the chance to show my solidarity against them.”
Westboro Baptist Church protests what it perceives as America’s acceptance of homosexuality. The church regularly protests at gay pride events, funeral of U.S. soldiers and federal courthouses. Prior to Sunday’s protests, a group spokesman said it chose Gainesville for its protests because the city represents a microcosm of what’s wrong in America today.
The picketing occured at six churches — First Baptist Church on Green Street, St. Jon's Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, St. Michael's Catholic Church, Grace Episcopal Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
Counterdemonstrators said they showed up to let the Westboro group know they opposed their message. Jordan Dorsey, a military veteran from Gainesville, said he was particularly upset at the Westboro church’s pickets the funerals of fallen soldiers.
“I’m not a big fan of Westboro coming to my hometown,” Dorsey said. “I stand for everything they are against, especially the protests and pickets of soldiers’ funerals. They picketed at the funerals of some of my friends who died in combat and this is the first time I’ve had the chance to show my solidarity against them.”
Cathy Chadwick, who recently moved to Sautee in White County, said she came to the protests to show a different message to the Westboro group.
“I don’t expect there’s anything I could say that would change their mind or what their beliefs are,” Chadwick said. “But I want them to know there are more people out here that think differently and think in a more loving and kind way about our fellow humans on the planet.”
The protests before noon, and Gainesville city officials said there were no incidents at any of the six churches that were picketed.
“Today the Gainesville community worked hard to provide a secure environment for these visitors to express their First Amendment Rights,” Bryan Lackey, the Gainesville city manager, said. “I am very proud of our community, the citizens who were inconvenienced during their normal worship time, and especially our public safety officials.”
Early Sunday, before its first stop at First Baptist Church on Green Street, the church posted a message on its Twitter account.
“Is your pastor a liar? Put him to the test,” one tweet said. Later, another said, “Westboro protests proud sin in Gainesville where churches steal the names of God to cloak their wicked deeds/lying words.”
At each of the stops, counterprotesters used cowbells to make noise in an effort to drowned out any chanting from the Westboro group.
"We weren't sure if they were going to be making a lot of noise or not," said Kyle Gomez Leimeweber, a Brenau University student and a member of Young Democrats of Hall County. "So we wanted to have cowbell if they were making a lot of noise we wanted to try and overcome that noise."
The number of counterprotesters grew throughout the morning. After First Baptist, the Westboro group went to St. John’s Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, St. Michael Catholic Church, Grace Episcopal and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
The largest counterprotest happened at Grace Episcopal Church where about 100 people showed up. Faculty and students at Brenau University, which sits across from the church, gathered on the front campus. About 40 members of the church, including some choir members in their robes, trickled out of the church to wave at the counterprotesters.
The church’s bells rang continually during the protest. The Westboro Twitter account said the bells were an attempt “to harass WBC protesters.”
Police presence was heavy at Grace, and a portion of Washington Street at Boulevard was blocked to prevent through traffic.
The first protest began around 8 a.m. in a light rain at First Baptist Church on Green Street. Nine protesters from Westboro stood on the lawn of the Gainesville Civic Center, while 45 counterdemonstrators stood at the corner of Green and Holly streets. It appeared none of the church’s members were present. The church has an 8:30 a.m. service.
“They are very misguided,” Dorsey said of the Westboro group. “Our God is a God of love. Yes, we worship the same God, but in very different ways. I think they need to rethink their positions.”
Police officers stood on either side of the street, and officers were also posted at the church’s doors. No traffic problems were reported, and church members were able to access the parking lots.
At First Presbyterian Church, portions of Enota Drive were closed. Two other churches targeted by Westboro – St. Michael and Good Shepherd – are also on this street.
A different group of Westboro protesters were at the Presbyterian church. The counterprotesters had to walk close to the Westboro group to get to their designated area, but law enforcement officers kept the two sides apart. There was no yelling or taunting.
It appeared no members of the church congregation were at the protest, but many were seen entering the church. The parking lot was full.
At St. Michael’s, both sides chanting during the protest. The counterdemonstrators sang “This Little Light of Mine,” “This Land is Your Land” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” Some members of the St. Michael’s congregation stood in the parking lot to watch the demonstrations.
For some counterprotesters, the decision by Westboro to come to Gainesville made little sense.
“I don’t like it, but they have a right to be here,” Chet White, a Gainesville resident, said. “I’m against their views against gays. Everyone should live. Gainesville is a very conservative town and I’m still trying to figure out why they are here.”
AccessWDUN's B.J. Williams, Joy Holmes and Scott Kimbler contributed to this report.
