Yesterday, on my regular morning news cruise, I learned from
AMERICAblog that Fred Phelp's Westboro Baptist Church intended to protest the Colorado Legislature on Thursday, March 23, 2006. I checked and saw that the Westboro Baptist Church website (Google that one yourself) posted its intention in its, get this,
Love Crusades section:
Colorado Taliban masquerading as a Legislature - at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 23, at the Statehouse, 200 E. Colfax, Denver and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar at 2300 15th St.
This, I had to see. So my fiance grabbed his trusty camera and off we went.
Here's a glimpse of the festive, Godly spirit that Westboro Baptist Church wanted to bring to Colorado, via
Michael Ditto at Progress Now:
03/23/2006
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Denver, CO
Colorado Statehouse 200 E. Colfax Ave.
Not to be outdone by the United States Taliban, and the other 24 states who have introduced or passed laws against those that fear and love God, Colorado has jumped on the bandwagon to outlaw gospel preaching. It wasn't enough for them to pass SJR 04-034 which resolves "That Reverend Phelps' message and those similar to it are not welcome in our state." Now they want to outlaw that message all together. They are attempting to shred the Constitution, and over what? A handful of people standing on a public sidewalk with signs in their hands. The Colorado Taliban hates God, and hates his judgments. Passing a law won?t bring those dead soldiers back to life!
03/23/2006
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Denver, CO
US Senator Ken Salazar's Office
2300 15th St.
US Senator Ken Salazar, who raised his right hand, and swore to uphold the Constitution, has taken it upon himself to attempt to silence the message of the Living God. Ken doesn't like the words we say so therefore they must go! It makes one wonder if Ken even knows what the First Amendment says. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." What is it about this that Ken doesn't understand? He has no business messing, in his official capacity, in matters of religion. The blood of all the dead soldiers is on Ken's hands! He, as a member of the government, has a platform to warn this nation that you can't live your life any way you want to and expect to go to Heaven. Does he use it? No, he attacks the only people who do warn their neighbour as they are commanded by God to do. Shame on Ken!!!!
Umm... Yeah. Okay. Well, there's a whole lot more where that came from, unfortuantely.
Moving on though, it was a beautiful early-spring afternoon in Denver, Colorado. A crisp breeze danced playfully on the cheeks while sunshine beamed through clear, blue Colorado skies to warm the faces of those in attendance.
My fiance and I arrived at the Colorado State Capitol Building, home of the Colorado Legislature, at about 2:45 p.m., while the press conference area was was being set up on the Capitol steps. The press conference was in honor of the "Right to Rest in Peace" Legislation (House Bill 1382) being introduced by Colorado State Representatives Michael Merrifield and Liane "Buffie" McFadyen. This bill ( a variant on similar legislation that has been introduced or enacted in 26 other states) would create a 500-foot buffer-zone between the bereaved and protesters at funerals.
The crowd that gathered was small, mainly local news crews, a handful of activists and passersby.
The Patriot Guard Riders, strode in with raised American flags at about 3:00 p.m. and formed a semi-circular barrier to the steps in front of the Capitol Building. Rep. Michael Merrifield and Rep. Buffie McFadyen both made brief statements, as did Gus Quist, Colorado State Captain of the Patriot Guard Riders, and Teresa Young, member of the Rocky Mountain Military Moms.
It seems that Westboro Baptist Church forgot to get a permit to protest at the Colorado State Capitol Building, so when they arrived, they were obliged to wander along the public sidewalk below, as the speakers for the press conference wrapped up their statements to the press.
Phelp's crew, a couple of dozen of people, consisting of children and adults by a ratio of roughly 3:1 respectively, started singing their own twisted version of John Denver's 'Country Roads,' something to do with Brokeback Mountain... This prompted Rep. Mike Merrifield to take to the steps above them and break into his own heartfelt rendition to counter their racket, "Country roads, take me home. To the place, I be-long, Colorado, mountain momma. Take me home, country roads!"
Wait. Did I mention there were more kids than adults, by a margin of nearly 3 to 1, among the members of the profoundly misguided Phelps group? I just want to make sure you're real clear on the fact that these people let their children serve as human shields to potential opposition. Got that? Kids.
One intrepid cameraman hustled down the stairs to get a better view of members of Westboro Baptist Church blurting the bile of their lunacy onto the lawn in front of the State Capitol. Pity that poor man because, let me tell you, that woman he's trained his lens on has learned to project her voice every bit as well as she's learned to project her fetid evil onto the world around her. And that's really saying something - as you can see.
Now, if Fred Phelps showed up the the State Capitol Building, he showed up after the press conference was over and after the Patriot Guard Riders drew applause from the crowd as well as onlookers from the verandas of the Capitol Building for refusing to demean themselves and leaving peacefully instead.
Beyond this brief retelling, I don't have much else to add but this: I was appalled and more than a little sad for the children that ended up carrying signs like, "Fag Troops," and "Thank God for 9/11". Bottom line though, the Westboro Baptist Church mob is a truly pathetic lot - and I do mean all of them, I'm sorry to say. One needs only have a soul to rise above the likes of these snakes and their venom. And that's coming from a dame that never met a fight worth fighting that she's ever drawn off of. Never.
Do you read me? As offensive as these people are, and desperately want to be, they don't rate the hate of better men and women.
For a more impersonal report on the event: Church Members, Veterans Clash At Capitol, Protesters At Soldiers' Funerals Target Of New State Bill, by the DenverChannel.com
Many thanks to my fiance for his good eye and solid camera work.