Morgan Harrington Murder: Protest Group To Preach Hate At Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA– I wish this was an early April Fools Joke. It is Not.
Excerpts from yesterdays Collegiatetimes.com.
Virginia Tech and Blacksburg leaders are preparing a response to an upcoming protest from the Westboro Baptist Church in relation to slain Tech student Morgan Harrington.
A calendar post on the Westboro Baptist Church’s Web site, godhatesfags.com, says the group will protest April 9 in downtown Blacksburg, outside Blacksburg High School, and the Virginia Tech branch of Hillel.
Among the propositions discussed were whether or not a counter-protest should be organized and if T-shirts would be commissioned. Carroll said that the SGA had proposed $250 for a counter-protest. Carroll also created a Google group, HokieNationResponse.
While some at the meeting proposed blocking the group’s proposed protest location, members of the group pointed out the action would be illegal under town code.
“If my radio show can prevent a circus atmosphere of protests, counter-protests, police protection, and media coverage from taking place in front of churches where grieving families are trying to say good-bye to their loved ones, then I think that’s a good thing,” Gallagher said, in an April 22, 2007 post on townhall.com.
Church officials said they were not protesting the 2007 shootings, saying they were “coming for the event that happened last month,” referencing slain student Morgan Harrington. A 20-year-old education major, Harrington was found in late January 2010 after going missing in October 2009 while attending a Metallica concert in Charlottesville, Va.
The LGBTA community has also shown outrage about the church’s protest. Aimee Kanode, a senior humanities, science, and environment major at Tech and president of Tech’s LGBTA said she would not attend the protest, as she has work on the day of the protest.
“These people are awful, appalling, despicable,” Kanode said. “My method is to just ignore them. Me wasting energy on those people is not worth my time.” Kanode said that while the group would not officially organize for the protest, several members and officers would be in attendance. Kanode said she advised her members to “be smart about it.”
“Be safe and know what you can and cannot do,” Kanode said. Jean Elliot and Ken Belcher, co-chairs of Tech’s LGBT Caucus, declined a request for comment on the protest.
The Westboro Baptist Church will start its April 9 protest at 1 p.m on the corner of North Main Street and East Roanoke Street. The church will then proceed to Blacksburg High School at 2:15 p.m., and the church will finish in Blacksburg with a 3 p.m. protest at the Blacksburg Jewish Community Center on East Roanoke Street.
From the Editor: This may be about the most egregious example of outright bad taste in my recent memory. There is a hate group attempting to exploit the name of a murdered woman whose killers are currently at large, on her campus.
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WTF? That is Whack! It makes no sense! What exactly are they protesting?
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Insanity, complete insanity!
I have heard of this group and am quite familiar with their site.
Their agenda is quite clear but I must confess why has Morgan become their target?
I guess this high profiled case gives them exposure. I’m deeply saddened to learn of this protest. Having the melancholy heart I do, I’m not surprised at how fast the speed of hate can breed.
What are they protesting?
Decorum of any kind.
B
Absolutely, positively, unbelievable. Exploitation does not even begin to describe the agenda of these so-called Christians. Perversion beyond the likes that I could EVER imagine.
God Bless the Harrington Family.
Shirley Phelps Roper from Westboro Baptist Church ~aka~ godhatesfags.com
Here she is being interviewed by Sean Hannity, he calls her a “nut” and tells her she is an embarrassment to the nation.
She says “there are no innocent people”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-STpW7jarrs
You MUST watch this.. She makes Joy Wray look totally normal.
Good morning, Blink. This group, Westboro Baptist Church(?), came here to West Virginia in January of 2006 and demonstrated outside the funerals of the 12 miners killed in the Sago Mine disaster. There were over 2,000 mourners at those services and these assholes were outside chanting and holding up picket signs. They believe God is punishing evil. They’ve done this for years at numerous locations of terrible tragedies, fires, explosions, murders. They protest against gays & they’re virulent anti-Semites. What they do is hate. Every disaster or tragedy or murder, to them, are signs of God’s wrath because of our deviant descension into sin. Hard to believe a Christian church congregation could be so cruel.
They are simple media mongers, nothing more. I don’t want to rage the first ammendment debate, but I was under the impression that we all learned something from the Holocaust.
I sent a note to my friend with Homeland Security, someone should have explained the good vs. bad attention theory to them.
B
This news both angers and saddens me. This group feeds off of the anger and fury that they generate. IMO, the best thing these local folks could do is to ignore them. Let the Westboro Church stand out on their designated spots holding their hateful signs…alone and ignored. With no visible opposition, not even the news crew will show up. God bless you Harrington Family.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church
Scary….
These types of groups are hate mongers and are disguised as Christians and they make me ashamed that they represent themselves as Christian. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus, who sought out those who were different from him and who demonstrated unconditional LOVE toward everyone.
They are fake and shame on them.
Blink, Do you know if there are any members of this “church” located in Charlottesville, Greene Co or North Garden?
Dunno, this group is based out of Kansas.
B
I just posted this a few minutes ago on the last thread, but as usual, you’re one step ahead
What do they hope to accomplish by having a protest using Morgan’s beautiful name? Why not do it right, and protest the fact that there is at least 1 or more murderer’s loose in or around the Charlottesville Va area, which means that until caught, the people in and around that area, especially young women, are in danger…
These people need to be stopped. I’m not against 1st amendment rights, but come on
FairWitness, these people are not really Christian. They are calling themselves Christian…. but,they are fakes. FAKES!
Being a Christian means to follow the teachings of Jesus. He never spouted hate toward anyone.
The appearance of this ‘church’ group might shade the efforts of some of us who are trying to make a difference toward the issue of violence, changing present laws governing sex offenders….. I hope we are never generalized with some of the ‘aggressive’ groups out there… I shall refrain from naming any.
ok, now i have heard everything. They are not true christians or they would not hate anyone. We will all be judged one day. And it is not our place to decide. They should be helping people not hurting them. That is what Jesus would be doing.
These clowns are no better then those as*wipes (godhatesfags) who stand and protest at military funerals. To see these inhuman scumbags yelling that they are glad your love one is dead is TOO TOO much! Iam glad at least now they have protection in plazce so a family can grieve. What is wrong with people today?
The Harrington Family did NOT ask to be put into this. The pig thast killed their beloved daughter did that for them.
there is NO CHURCH in this country that would ever PROMOTE SUCH HATE as this one does. This isn’t a CHURCH…This is nothing more but a group of NOBODIES…..spouting their hate for their own race. You can’t even pity these morons. people like this have rights..Pleaseeeeeeeeeee! Spare us all that thought. God does not think like them.
Bless the Harrington Family.
Too bad their route couldn’t be like a ghost-town… no traffic or audience. Would still fee their egos, but no one can change their opinion…
Interesting, tho. Sounds like exactly the type of person(s)/group that would protect or even be proud of someone that committed a brutal murder if done in the name of their own agenda. I wonder if any of our favorite people or their family are members of this group.
I wish I knew someone with a helicopter and a large water bucket.
lol
B
Maybe their bus will go over a cliff.
Not kidding.
chitownlady might have answered the question I was going to ask. Is this the same “congregation” who protest at military funerals. They don’t protest because they object to war, but because they feel the military condones gays in the military because of “don’t ask, don’t tell. These people say every military death is a punishment from God. They obviously know a different God than I know.
I agree, totally ignoring them is the best way to handle their protests. Holding a counter demonstration, hurling insult for insult just attracts media attention. Let them exist in their own little vacuum and maybe they’ll eventually suffocate and die from a lack of oxygen(publicity.)
On the plus side, I guess it will keep Morgan’s name in the news. But otherwise, wow—that’s just…odd.
Blink says:
“This may be about the most egregious example of outright bad taste in my recent memory There is a hate group attempting to exploit the name of a murdered woman whose killers are currently at large, on her campus. ”
This is an interesting comment. Her campus isnt in Charlottsville last time I looked. Any thoughts?
PS: Missed you guys!
Boz, if you find the helicopter, I have an inside lead on tons of chicken poo — for free no less.
This group is a cult, they are not Christians — they can call themselves whatever they want, doesn’t make it so. I know I have a lot to account for in my own life (and that’s just what I remember or know about), I am grateful hate is not one of the things on my list.
Counselor4u, I know you are right, as I am a Christian and know that we do not act in this manner. God does not punish victims of tragedy or their loved ones. God is not spiteful.
Blink, media mongers with hate-filled messages bring unfavorable opinions upon themselves. You are correct that the attention they call to themselves leaves us all disgusted and determined to expose these false prophets. What they’re spreading isn’t the gospel, but rather evil. One has to wonder what in God’s name are they trying to accomplish? If it’s repentence of sin, they’re going about it all wrong.
This truly makes me nauseated. That’s a terrible name for a website and a terrible message they are trying to spread. I hope the Harrington family does not spend an ounce of energy thinking or worrying about this disgusting group of so-called Christians…they defeat the entire message of Christianity; don’t they realize they are complete hypocrites.
Are you guys sure this has anything to do with Morgan? I know they had planned to protest the shootings on 4/16 when the memorial service was held. The latest info I heard was that they were protesting the death of a VT cadet that was killed in Afghanistan and was being laid to rest. I also saw that this was a protest of “the University, the high school and the jewish community center”. Regardless, these people are a waste of life. Check out the video below. This is the way to handle these guys. A guy named Jason from another school that they protested at arranged to take up donations across from the protesters and then gave the donations to organizations that the WBC protests against in their name.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Of_2ykZpQ&feature=player_embedded
Positive, click on the links, they mention her specifically
B
Boz, I actually do — there’s a local helo firm in Richmond who is contracted to do fire prevention w/ the Va. St. Dept of Forestry — I wonder if someone should report a raging forest fire at their location ? Hmmm
But seriously — i have that brain injury and sometimes my brain does not comprehend what I’m reading –
this isn’t a joke post — i’m serious — what are they protesting ? Are they protesting that morgan was dressed provacatively and drank alcohol before going to the spawn of satan metalhead rock concert and deserved what she got
Dr. H, if you read that terrible sentence, you know that is not how I feel
Also — I was born, raised and am Baptist — there are some branches of the Baptist church that are more strict than others — please don’t judge the entire Baptist faith based on these people — the entire tenet of Christianity is love toward one another — I can’t quote scripture, chapter and verse — but the diciples asked Jesus, of all the rules — he was Jewish, and there were like 900 rules or commandments — don’t mean to offend any Jewish readers, I don’t know the proper vocabulary — but there were a lot — but all of the rules and commandments, which one is the most important
Jesus replied: to love one another as my father in Heaven loves me
Now, I’m not asking you to believe that Jesus was the messiah — that’s an individual decision — but the diciples believed he was truly the Son of God — there have been probably a billion people since then that also believe that — as do I — but even if he wasn’t/isn’t — they believed it, he said it, and what is his response — love one another as my father in heaven loves me
powerful words — which I do not live by, I hate to admit — I find it hard to love people who commit such atrocious crimes, especially against children and the elderly — he further goes on to address that by saying to the effect — love the person, not the sin —
so these people stating they are Christians and doing God’s work flies in the face of the very words of Christ —
again, not a religious lecture, just my opinion —
and good on you, Blink, for addressing this head on —
someone upthread posted wish they would protest to a ghost town — I think that would be the absolute way to go —
if a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one there to hear it, does it still make a noise ?
Interestingly enough, I looked at Westboro Baptist Church web site and I immediately felt hatred rising in my body. In Buddhism, we try hard to recognize it (hey, I am feeling an immediate visceral hatred toward these hateful people), poke at it a bit (isn’t it interesting that they can anger me so much and that they want me to hate and isn’t it ironic that they tie themselves to Jesus) and then let it pass (phew, I don’t want hatred in my body so don’t entertain it, just let it move on out). Okay, now I feel clear enough to react lovingly and purposefully.
I think we at BOC likely all agree that we want to protect the Harringtons from this impending horror. And I think we can do just that to some degree as long as we keep our heads and remember our goal. The primary beneficial effect that WE can have as people who feel Westboro Baptist Church is behaving wrongly, is to offer the Harringtons the safety of our love, our acceptance, our support. Gil, you got it wrong. Your family is not a tripod because of this tragedy. Your family is now a myriapod. WE–the millions of souls who send you love and healing minute to minute, who battle these very examples of hatred in our every day encounters with it by speaking up when it is easier to be silent, by practicing love when it is easier to get mad and hate, by constantly pointing our talents toward peace–WE are here to not only help your family to heal, but to heal humanity of its affliction of hatred and violence–WE are your supportive legs. And WE outnumber the congregation of Westboro Baptist Church.
The best thing to do with this group is to completely ignore them. They are fueled by the outrage that they inspire at each of the funerals they protest, and they watch with glee as folks give them more attention.
Sadly, they have been doing this for years at many, many funerals and other events. Don’t feed the trolls.
This group came here to Richmond recently to protest at the Holocaust Museum and a high school that has a gay & lesbian student group. Rather than stage a counter-protest (which this group seems to feed off of), a group here staged a fundraiser in their honor. The funds raised were divided between gay/lesbian rights groups and groups with Jewish afiliations (I don’t remember if it was for Holocaust survivors or what, but it was something along those lines). The people who organized the fundraiser made it clear that any time this “church” came back to Richmond, another fundraiser to benefit these groups would be held. I thought that was the perfect response. You’ve gotta love the passive-aggressivenenss of the south.
That is a great idea.
B
Gerta –
I agree with you 100%. These people feed off of hate and anger. They will not stop and protesting against them only seems to feed into their ridiculous hatred. I feel that if everyone (and it would have to be everyone) really did ignore them, they might finally realize that no one believes them and no one cares about their “message.” Either that or they’d keep picketing – but at least the rest of us would keep our blood pressures low and their hatred from streaming through us.
These cretens made an appearance at the funeral of my friend who was killed in Afghanistan. Thankfully, the Patriot Riders were there to block them from actually interfering with the funeral but it was still terrible for the family and friends to have to pass by these morons and their less-than-Godlike posters. The best advice I would give would be to ignore them. They don’t like to be ignored. If no one shows up to protest their “protest”, no media turns up to cover it, and none of you give them the attention they so desperately crave, they will tuck their tails (and horns) between their legs and slink off to stir the pot elsewhere. God Bless the Harringtons for their courage and convictions.
Clearly they are not Christians–they are Cretins. As usual they don’t make any sense. The whole family is nuts and I mean INSANE!!! And yes, they are a waste of life…
I am very familiar with these people. They are actually really just a large cult like family out of Topeka Kansas rather than a significant church. Amazingly, they are amazingly very intelligent people — basically brainwashed by their patriarch, Gramps. They are mostly lawyers and will sue the heck out of anyone who tries to mess with them and tie them up forever in the courts. In fact, I suspect they fund themselves partially from law suits. They have a big hearing before the US Supreme Court soon.
I attach a truly excellent documentary on them by the BBC and is well worth watching if you have the time (it is an hour). It is non-judgmental. It is actually heartbreaking what they are doing to their children — many of whom seem like perfectly normal, beautiful young girls filled up with totally irrational religious based hatred.
They are the same group who pickets military funerals (the godhatesfags folks). They do all this for publicity and to create law suits if the city tries to stop them. I suspect they will fade away once their patriarch dies (which frankly cannot come soon enough). If you can somehow ignore them in the meantime, that would do them the most damage.
They are not located in C’ville and there is no possibility of them being involved in the crime in any way IMO.
http://www.scottklarr.com/topic/478/documentary-the-most-hated-family-in-america-by-louis-theroux/
I wonder if it wouldn’t be best to just ignore them. They’re starved for attention; why feed them?
They are coming regardless, I think an organized and PEACEFUL shun is in order.
I would like to see these humps come to Jersey- for real, maybe the Pine Barrons.
B
The likes of groups like these are disgusting. There is nothing Christian about what they are doing. They don’t know the meaning of love. I’m sorry that the Harrington family have to even be exposed to something like this. Sickening.
Love and prayers Dan, Gil and Alex.
Counselor4u..
You are so right. These people are a “Total Waste” as casey anthony would say. Really, they are just a disgusting bunch of people who does not have a clue what Christianity is all about. One day, when they stand before God they will find out what hatred is. God hates this kind of stuff. Please do not be offended by my above comments. If you do not agree with me that is your right.
There was young man from our church who was killed in Iraq, and his funeral was at the church. Our local police had received word they these Westboro motorcycle riding people might come to protest at the service. The police were prepared…they never showed up.
The whole world has gone stone crazy. JMO
These people wouldn’t recognize Jesus if He was standing in their midst.
If anyone feels compelled to do something about this group–please don’t form another group to stand in opposition of them. The best offense is to confuse the enemy. To prove this I’ll share my true story of an event that happened to my husband and me. It must likely saved our lives. And I sure learned something from the experience.
Hubby was driving on a treacherous road in Tucson, AZ. I was in the passenger seat. It was broad daylight. For some reason the guy driving near my side of the vehicle seemed to be playing a game and trying to push us off the road, over a cliff drop off. Don was doing everything he could to stay on the road. I was freaking out–and my thoughts were with our daughter who was in school that day. I was afraid of her being left alone in this world if this guy accomplished his goal to run us off the road. I had an idea.
I rolled down the window and began to scream “A**Hole!” at him, while giving him the finger. To my amazement, the guy got this strange look on his face of utter confusion as he slowed down and got behind us. I looked down to see why. I was giving the guy the “Thumbs UP” sign. LOL. Can you tell I don’t usually give anyone the finger? It worked!!!
Therefore, if anyone feels compelled to do something, paint some signs up and mingle among them. Your signs can say “God Hates The Internets” or “God Hates Bacon” or “God hates tablecloths.” Well, you get the idea. Be creative, but don’t engage them. They are looking for you to be combative. Just dilute their message by acting as ignorantly innocent as they are; Only more so. ~Moonchime
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/30/national/main6346532.shtml
This story about the Westboro crazies is absolutely infuriating!
Interesting enough “In the 1990s the church won a series of lawsuits against the City of Topeka and Shawnee County for efforts taken to prevent or hinder WBC picketing, and was awarded approximately $200,000 in attorney’s fees and costs associated with the litigation.” but on the other end, “In the autumn of 2007, the father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by the WBC was awarded $5 million in damages”. “In February 2009, the group protested at the funeral of a plane crash victim. Students from the nearby University at Buffalo and the Buffalo area held a peaceful counter protest, holding up white sheets to shield the victim’s family from the Phelpses. A motorcycle brigade, known as the Patriot Guard Riders, is known for revving its engines to drown out the Phelpses.”
Nice. Anybody know the local Blacksburg chopper dudes?
B
This is a group of very sick people. They protested a local family’s son’s funeral (he was killed in the line of duty), the man sued and won a several million $ lawsuit. The group appealed, and the court ruled in their favor this time, citing “freedom of speech”. The case will now go to the Supreme Court. There is no way I consider these whack-jobs Christians, they are all about hate and evil, and are more closely associated with the devil, imho.
The thought of them even uttering Morgan’s name is an abomination, they are vile, disgusting excuses for human beings, this makes me sick!
Their signs may read “God sent the killer.” All I can say is that it is increasingly clear to me that God sent Morgan. Especially at Easter, it can be a time for all, not just Christians, to contemplate the power of the untimely death of a good person. Whatever you believe of the Christian story, you cannot deny its power and influence. But that power is in the hands of those who remain.
Here are two small examples from the past week.
There is a project started in memory of a kindergartner who died of cancer. The project began in 2001, and just passed the mark of having provided “spirit-lifting” gifts to 50,000 chronically ill children. My children had the honor last week of being part of the donation that reached that mark. I thought of Morgan then, and how the strength of her parents will help achieve good for others from the tragedy of her death, as Jared’s parents did from his death.
http://www.thejaredbox.com/index.html
Also last week, I was asked to co-sponsor an upcoming memorial fundraising event for one of the 2007 VT shooting victims. The fund was started by his family, with the planned memorial one that will be of benefit to others. I had not decided yet whether to help sponsor this year’s event, until I saw this post on BOC. I immediately sent an e-mail providing a positive response. Morgan (and Gil and Dan and Alex) inspired me to help this other VT family in their attempts to make their son’s too-short life more meaningful.
None of this is much in the face of the Harringtons’ grief, I know. But it is all I have to offer in the face of such a despicable protest in the name of God.
i’ve seen these kinds groups at parades and there message is so bent its obvious and laughable,like a freak in a carnival show.i agree with ignore from the public, but i wish the law could unravel them.
The best thing to do is IGNORE them !
Hey, has anyone heard that they found little Aja’s body with that Hobbs guy in the car. Dont know if he was dead or not. This all that I have heard???? Any other news on this?
Ok, wind is back in my sails.
Heartless opportunists is all these people are. Sad for their children (did anyone see Jesus Camp? OMG). So sad for the Harringtons that their name is in this. It does not matter to this group that it was Morgan; they were just looking for the next opportunity.
As I cannot make it to Blacksburg that day to set up a bake sale for the local synagogue or campus gay rights group (loved hearing about that, cvillenative!), I am not gonna let them distract me for another second.
Suggestion: someone from OMNI should set up a group to raise more funds for the orphans Gil treats. Only if security is possible.
I read about this group at the Wikipedia link given. They are just a bunch of nuts. The pictures that I found of them show that they are all crazy in the head. Their poor little children, they have no chance and are taught to hate from day 1 of their lives.
It seems the best way to deal with them is to ignore them. If anyone has pull with the local media, please ask them not to cover the protest. I feel so bad for the Harringtons and any family who has this group protest at their loved one’s funeral. How awful. I wish that groups like this would be arrested and put away for good. But since we can’t get law-makes to put away sex offenders and protect our children, then I guess we shouldn’t expect them to put away anyone else out there causing harm.
The website talked about the Patriot Guard Riders, who help protect family members at funerals from this groups’ presence. Maybe they could come and help. It also mentioned examples of students running them off in the past or holding up white sheets to block them so the funeral participants do not have to see them. Those would be good ideas also.
It is hard to believe such hate exists, but when I remember how Morgan was murdered, it reminds me there is plenty of hate out there, just in various forms. I believe these people are no different from the person or persons who murdered Morgan. They are attacking her and her family after her death.
Utterly disgusting! I do believe the best thing to do is ignore them. However if I was ever attending a funeral and saw this group, I would have a very hard time containing myself! It makes my blood boil!
I got it from Klaas, K, thank you.
It will never appear here. Of that I can assure you.
B
This is the same group that protested at Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder’s funeral. The Snyders took the protesters to court. In October 2007, a jury awarded the Snyders $2.9 million in compensatory damages, $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress. It was thrown out on appeal by the Fourth Circuit. Federal judges have now ordered the family to pay $16,510 to ringleader Fred Phelps as they pursue a Supreme Court case. SCOTUS agreed earlier this month to hear the Snyders’ appeal.