Westboro Baptist Church protests "The Laramie Project" performance

Photos by Colin Conces
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church protest "The Laramie Project" performance. The protestors were stationed across from the Lied Center at 24th and Cass Streets.

Creighton students, high school students and Omahans respond with counter-protest.

By SARAH SMITH
News Editor

Some members of the Westboro Baptist Church stood quietly on the southeast corner of Cass and 24th Streets holding signs that read “Thank God For Katrina,” “Fags Doom Nations” and “God Is Your Enemy.” A few held American flags. Others sang. 

“I told you this was a good idea,” said one female church member as she glanced across the street toward a group of about 80 Creighton students, administrators, high school students and Omaha residents. 

As the group of about 20 church members protested “The Laramie Project” – a play put on by Creighton students about Matthew Shepard, a gay man who was killed in Laramie, Wyo., in 1998 – Friday night before the play began at the Lied Education Center for the Arts, counter-protestors responded to them with their own signs and their own protest across the street. There also were other counter-protestors at Deglman Circle. 

Holding signs saying “God Loves,” “God Made Gays” and “Since When Does God Hate?”, they gathered on the northeast corner to counter-protest the Westboro Baptist Church’s protest of the play. Friday night marked the third performance. 

While church members sang at the counter-protestors, one counter-protestor read aloud from the Bible. Some remained silent and told people who yelled insults at church members to be quiet as part of the counter-protest. Others vocalized their disagreement with the church’s stance.

The Westboro Baptist Church is known for protesting events such as funerals of soldiers killed in combat and for having an anti-gay and anti-Catholic stance. “We’re [Westboro Baptist Church] condemning them,” said Jacob Phelps, grandson of Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps.

“Fuck you guys,” screamed a male counter-protestor to church members. 

One counter-protestor was more benevolent with his dissent.

“I love each and every one of you,” he shouted to the church members across the street.

Westboro Baptist Church, which is based in Topeka, Kan., and headed by Fred Phelps, is known for its anti-gay stance and for picketing during funerals for U.S. soldiers killed in combat. The church is an independent Baptist church and is not connected with any other Baptist association. 

Members who protested at “The Laramie Project” said the church pickets at soldiers’ memorial services, other churches’ services and football games.

“Whatever draws a lot of people, we’ll be there,” said Jacob Phelps, 22, one of the church members who protested at “The Laramie Project” and grandson of Fred Phelps.

Passerbys are shocked by the protest outside of "The Laramie Project" performance.

Jacob Phelps said everyone has a duty to obey God. Those who don’t are going to hell, he said.   

“We’re [Westboro Baptist Church] condemning them,” he said. 

David Hockenbarger, 16, another church member that participated in the protest, said homosexuals are part of the group of people that can’t be saved, and will go to hell.

“It’s too late now,” Hockenbarger said. 

Hockenbarger said Catholics are people who also will go to hell.

“Catholics are a bunch of boy rapers [rapists],” Hockenbarger said.

Michael Hopkins, Arts & Sciences senior and one of the counter-protestors, said the beliefs and protests of the Westboro Baptist Church are ignorant and promote hate.

“It’s just this mindless hate of everything,” he said. “The fact that this exists in this country, it’s just chilling. It’s just terrifying.” 

 Nakiea Boetger, Omaha resident and counter-protestor, wore a halo and white bed sheet as part of the counter-protest. She said the Westboro Baptist Church members’ hateful protest illustrates their stupidity and ignorance.

“I’m not real sure what God they’re acting on behalf of,” she said. 

Public Safety officers were at the protests directing vehicle traffic on Cass Street and monitored the two crowds.

WBC member Jael Phelps protests "The Laramie Project."

Rick McAuliffe, director of Public Safety, said he thought the counter-protestors did a good job of voicing their disagreement with the Wesboro Baptist Church without becoming volatile.

“I think people exercised a lot of strength,” he said.     

Tanya Winegard, assistant vice president for Student Life, was one of the Creighton administrators present at the protest to ensure that students were safe during the protest.

“We wanted to make sure they could express themselves,” she said. “We want to be there for students.”

Ricardo Ariza, director of Multicultural Affairs and one of the administrators at the counter-protest, described the Westboro Baptist Church’s message and protest as evil.  

“Sometimes you have to face evil,” he said. “It was disgusting. It was sad. It hurt my heart.” 

During the protest and counter-protest, about 50 people, including Gay-Straight Alliance members, gathered in the Lied Center lobby to pray at 7 p.m. before the play started. The Rev. Andy Alexander, S.J., led the prayer. A passage from the Book of Isaiah was read, and people took turns saying prayers aloud. 

Kate Arnold, Westside High School senior, was one of several Westside High School students who joined the counter-protest. She said the counter-protest proves that there are people who care about the GLBT community and will not tolerate the hateful messages that the Westboro Baptist Church promotes. 

“It’s not just GLBT [community],” she said. “It’s their allies as well.” 

Hopkins said the counter-protest showed that the Creighton community and Creighton students are supportive of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender students.

“We want to show that we won’t stand for such close-mindedness,” he said. “The student body is not reflective of this hatred. We believe in equality.”