Show Me No Hate Planning Counter Protest Against Westboro Church At Area High School

BY: COLIN MURPHY - SENIOR WRITER

According to the website of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), a group led by anti-gay Rev. Fred Phelps plans to picket both Marquette and Hazelwood Central High Schools on Monday, Nov. 2 in St. Louis. It is believed Phelps is protesting Gay/Straight Student Alliances.

"WBC will picket these fag infested, pervert-run Missouri High Schools," states the WBC website. The Phelps' group plan to protest at Marquette from 7:45 - 8:15 a.m. and at Hazelwood Central from 1:55 - 2:25 p.m.

A counter protest at both schools is being organized by Ed Reggi, founder of Show Me No Hate, a local gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) equality group.

The Topeka based church gained notoriety in the 1980s and 1990s for picketing the funerals of gay men, including Matthew Shephard. More recently the church has made headlines by protesting at the funerals of U.S. servicemen and women. Phelps and his followers are known for their anti-gay rhetoric, hate-filled signs and website, www.godhatesfags.com.

Counter protests of the WBC often opt to have participants don large Angel Wings to obstruct the offensive signs. This practice was first adopted at the funeral of Shephard, a gay man brutally beaten to death in Wyoming. His name is honored on the Federal Hate Crimes Law signed by President Obama on Oct. 28, along with James Byrd, an African American who was dragged to death in Texas.

"It is important we congregate before the Phelps family arrives and block their ability to display their horrific signs toward the children of our community," said Reggi via FaceBook. "We are encouraging folks to make angel wings, or to bring larger white sheets with nothing written on them. We can pull these sheets together and simply surround the Phelps signage thus blocking their hate."

Reggi went on to explain that the Show Me No Hate event is to be a  peaceful counter protest and that those interested in joining their effort should avoid bringing graphic signs of their own.

"Just images of peace, love and unity," said Reggi. "The color white is wonderful as is the rainbow symbolizing the most universal image of Godly peace."

For those interested in participating in the counter protest contact Ed Reggi at www.showmenohate.com.