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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Could it be that this very bigotry is actually protecting Morgan’s killer? That someone believes she was asking for it, that she didn’t deserve better if she was out in the streets alone, dressed like this and intoxicated?
It should be pretty obvious that I don’t support these views. I am just trying to look into his friends’ and family’s mind. Why don’t they come forward?
They are from topeka not cville. The suggestion that a big pocket near cville paid them to do this to viginia tech is very silly. No one has been more supportive of virginia tech during its mass murder tragedy than uva.
Not defending, but she has apologized, and she read the issue of the political vandalism at the same time, let’s move on.
There is no way I believe that this is a UVA V/T issue, to that extent that I wonder if these Snuggie lovers have North Garden ties.
B
Saramom, nah, they didn’t even think to connect it to her bro. They’re poking a stick into the wound of every parent who was terrorized by, or lost kids to, the violence that has happened at VT over the past few years by saying God is mad at students for drinking and stuff, and Morgan is just the latest sign of how mad He is. Hey, happy Easter, everybody!
this group is much like a hornets nest…. layers and layers of protection on the outside
this could have been prevented 40 years ago in Topeka if people had asked about children coming to school with black eyes, being forced to take cold showers, getting up in the early morning to run *miles* before going to school and being forced to sell everything on “the list” before coming home at night, or enduring a physical punishment if they did not- I know Fred’s children will deny this but I know this to be so. I remember one of the girls crying on our doorstep that she could not
Please let this group be a warning to everyone- you cannot ask too many questions!
I remember being bullied by one of the Phelps girls in my class- when you have nothing at hate at home, this is what you become.
learn from the blind eye Topekans turned 40 years ago!
There is no doubt in my mind that is the case.
B
local, I am letting this go, Your right and valid, I just need to cut it off.
tia
B
When it rains it pours:
Tonight on Fox News-
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/30/marines-father-ordered-pay-protesters-court-fees/
The father of a Marine killed in Iraq whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters told Fox News he will defy a court order and not pay the protesters’ appeal costs.
Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., told Fox News he does not intend to pay $16,510 to Fred Phelps, the leader of Kansas’ Westboro Baptist Church, which held protests at Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder’s funeral in 2006.
“I don’t think I’m going to be writing a check until I hear from the Supreme Court,” Snyder told Fox News on Tuesday. “I’m not about to pay them anything.”
The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered Snyder on Friday to pay Phelps. A two-page decision supplied by his attorneys offered no details on how the court came to its decision.
The decision adds “insult to injury,” said Sean Summers, one of Snyder’s attorneys.
Snyder is also struggling to come up with fees associated with filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, his attorneys said.
The high court agreed to consider whether the protesters’ message is protected by the First Amendment or limited by the competing privacy and religious rights of the mourners.
A federal appeals court dismissed the suit on First Amendment grounds earlier this month and threw out a $5 million award against the protesters, some of whom carried signs that read “God Hates You” and “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.”
A funeral for the fallen Marline was held in March 2006 in Westminster, Md. Snyder, 20, died from a non-combat-related vehicle accident on March 3, 2006, while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
According to a Web site created in Snyder’s honor, his relatives filed the civil lawsuit against the Westboro Baptist Church to “bring an end to the reign of terror and abuse that they inflicted” upon grieving families of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Using innocent children to deliver their twisted message of hatred and fear, the defendants in this suit have sought to attack the memory of our departed heroes, to strip their loved one of dignity, and to use abuse and intimidation as a tool for preventing surviving family members from reaching closure over their loss,” the Web site read.
Cathy Menefee, Snyder’s sister, told the Baltimore Sun in 2006 that her brother had an unwavering sense of responsibility that led to his decision to join the military.
“It sounds so cliche, but he died doing what he wanted to do,” Menefee told the paper. “He always wanted to be a Marine.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
—————–
Incidentally, Bill O’Reilly said that he will pay the $16K for this family.
19.redly says:
March 30, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Thank you for your response. They know they’re protected but these people are not Christians. No way. No how. They do not talk about Jesus Christ (who puts the Christ in Christian and Christmas). If they did and were true bible thumpers, they’d know the old testament served a different time. The new testament is about love thy neighbour and ‘no one comes to the Father except through me’. This church is extreme and perhaps a cover to spread hate. Somehow, they must be breaking the law.
I would love to see some kind of task force formed solely for the purpose of bringing this so called church down.
Ugh.
Westboro goes all over the country doing this. In other cities, people have organized counter protests. One group of motorcycle owners revs their engines loudly near the “protesters.”
They went to San Francisco recently, where the people handled them perfectly. Locals “joined” their protests holding silly signs such as “I hate spinach,” “God hates signs,” “Dog loves fags” (carried by a dog), “I thought about Shirley Phelps naked and now I’m gay.”
Other favorites: “God hates fuzzy tiny kittens,” “God loves everyone,” “God hates figs,”
“Lame —>” (standing next to a Westboro protester),
“Ignorant –>” “He’s gay —>” (both standing next to protesters)
“Dude, Phelps is so gay,” “What’s your sign,” and “God is love, hate is stupid.”
The counter-protesters were all smiling, some wearing silly costumes. They all took each others’ pictures and appeared to have a lovely time. Westboro freaked out and left. Bet they never go there again.
As Teddy Roosevelt said, “There is more than one way to skin a cat.” Just sayin’.
Connie wrote: Connie says:
March 30, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Dear BOC,
I am speechless, angry, sad, embarrassed and just ignorant as to why these groups exist. I know you know who I am but I live in Christiansburg, Va. about 10 minutes from Va. Tech and I am stunned that they exist and would do something like this and why pick on Va. Tech and Morgan? Her poor parents and brother!!! I have to wonder if a big pocket in nearby C’ville made a donation to prompt this.”
Excuse me for not understanding clearly, but WTH did your last sentence come from???
Thanks for posting that- That does not match the post, does it?
B
I forgot to say, what made the counter-protesters so effective is that they got right in the middle of the Westboro group. They made sure to stand close enough that they were in every picture frame with Westboro, with their counter-protest humorous signs right in the midst of Westboro’s signs, drowning them out. A lot of them wore clown or fuzzy animal costumes. Westboro was embarrassed out of there. All very legal.
Blink:
I might be a bit confused on this but sometimes people hate what they are or more importantly, what they hide!
Could a parent of a different generation be hiding what his son is and why his son may have extreme rage against women and himself?
He trys to keep his secret a secret, so in his evil head, he hangs with an even bigger evil?
4 boys(cowards) in black.
Yes, very possible. Abuse is highly cyclical.
B
Blink, I have read several articles on the death and discovery of Ms. Harrington. The latest news about Ms. Harrington having been found with her bones shattered, is a different story from the first news about the discovery of her remains. Instead of finding her remains lying in a field as if someone just placed her there, this news comes out a month or so later. I wrote in one publication i thought someone used an ATV of some kind to take her onto Anchorage farm and left her body. This may sound bizarre, but could someone have dropped her from the sky like in a plane or helicopter!! Hence the shattered bones. If that could have been possible then where the remains were found could just be a random place and the culprit had no connection to the area or the farm. Huh!! Pass it on to the Va. State Police because stranger things have happened.
Respectfully, NO. NO. NO.
I have checked all flight plans for an extended period, simply because it was of interest to me to know if aerials were being shot via drone or other. Morgan was not dropped from a plane.
B
CM-
That is not even the subjects Dad’s name. That said, I agree with the rest.
B
To Red Hill local: You took the words/question right out of my mouth: Whatever was Connie referring to with her conjecture, re, “…a big pocket in nearby C’ville making a donation to prompt this”??!
I take great umbrage at such sensational, baseless speculation, and would like to better understand from where this poster’s question came.
Connie, can you please shed any light on your statement to assist those of us who are quite puzzled by it? TIA.
Dear Red Hill, I am so sorry! The reference was to an earlier blog about a GOP office, even still, I was and am in the wrong- please forgive me. Stupid me, I did not know groups like this would actually pounce on B’burg- I still am in shock and do not understand why they target Morgan or Va. Tech-our community has been through so much- it is heartwrenching. Again, Red Hill I have always respected you and I am so sorry – please ignore my stupid ignorance. To BOC’s do not worry I will not post again.
Thank you for such a humble apology. We all make mistakes when we are acting out of emotion.
B
I asked the same question as observer and redhill but perhaps a little less tactfully. Maybe good it got lost in the ether.
To Observer- I am sorry! Please forgive me. I read a post or blog and was wrong. My mistake and good luck – I am not a good blogger and will not comment again. Best of luck to BOC.
Enough, there was no malice, we are kind people and open to those apologizing for their mistakes.
The issue is over.
B
I thought I smelled something foul…
These moral barbarians are – as many here have aptly stated – nothing more than media-savvy hatemongers led by a manipulative psychopath who has made a living by pummeling universally sympathetic, grief-stricken victims of tragedies with the Constitution. I mean, if you’re looking for the most base, vile, disgraceful money-making scheme in the history of this nation, well this strategically deranged family scores in the Top 5.
That said, it helps to recognize that these jackasses literally scan the Internet for soldiers’ funeral notices, for headlines regarding young victims of car accidents, for innocent murder victims, etc., and picketing the pain of those who gather to grieve them. It’s the butter on their bread, as it were – in fact, the scroll of press releases on the WB Web page detailing their current targets is tagged “Bread from the Oven.” (Could we be any more transparent? crikey…)
B – we actually *did* have them in Jersey (well, South Jersey, that is). They came to Cherry Hill last fall to “protest” one of the high schools having a gay students club, selecting a patch of public space (It’s all about finding those easements, baby!) that just happened to be alongside one of the municipality’s most heavily traveled (at 35-mph) roads during rush-hour. They timed it for the *peak* of the morning rush, of course, making sure every media outlet in the region had a press release.
Township officials hemmed and hawed on what to do, got advice from the Solicitor – along the lines of what redly’s been explaining here – then ultimately jacked up police presence that morning to … wait for it… shut down the roadway. Well, to redirect traffic through a detour, causing potential outraged onlookers to miss the sight entirely (and placing “Detour” signs well in advance of the thoroughfare, as not to greatly inconvenience commuters). I can’t recall the reason that was publicly cited… something probably infuriatingly ambiguous (to the WestBors) – but it didn’t matter; buses and vehicles headed into the high school for the day or dropping students off were ushered into the lot via a side access road, and even a few tenacious news photogs and a cameraman wanting to shoot the “scene” had to park at a distance and hoof it. Suffice it to say, the whole spectacle was essentially a non-event (and only about 10 of them showed anyway). Pathetic.
But it’s not always an option to redirect traffic. I prefer the method I’ve read here of turning WB’s shenanigans into a benefit for the groups of people being victimized by their hate speech. Watch this dude rock out the idea at a WB “protest” in Chicago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Of_2ykZpQ&feature=player_embedded
“If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.”
Anonymous
This group comes to my city every year, and protests at the Catholic High Schools. My son attends an all boy Catholic Jesuit High School, and of course the priests and the school is targeted by this group. Here is a letter that the Dean of Students sent out to the parents on what to expect and how to explain how to handle the chanting, yelling, and picketing of this group at my sons school:
Dear Parents:
On Wednesday, {date redacted} , members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, KS will be protesting on public property near {name of school}. This group is notorious for their anti-gay hate speech. Some of their focus has been directed toward Catholicism and the priesthood. We expect the small group of 10-15 adults and children to be located near the corner of {street name} or near our east entrance at {street name} between 7:30 – 8:00 a.m. The event will be monitored by the police and school staff.
We would ask that you keep your normal routines and assist your sons in doing the same. Our response as a school will be to not engage in any dialogue with this group. We feel that any discussion will only promote the cause of a hate group that is so far from the mainstream. While some individuals or groups may want to respond, we would expect that our community speak with one voice by ignoring their protest.
We are releasing the following statement to any media who request a comment from the school. If you or your sons are contacted by the media, please refer them to school officials for comment.
At {name of school}, we form men of faith, scholarship, leadership and service in the Catholic and Jesuit tradition. We believe that all human beings are formed in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, we teach our students to respect the inherent dignity and worth of all persons. We will continue to emphasize this value.
Thank you.
Dean of Students
I hope all of the students, parents, administrators, and citizens will take heed to how we handled them here, no incident and NO PRESS for them. hehehehe
I also am trying so dutifully to keep focused on Morgan and hoping that justice will prevail in time. I find it senseless for myself, to be looking the other way at yet another evil obstacle to present itself in Morgans case. ( how many have we had?) Concentrating on this group is a distraction, and perhaps a justified one for the moment, but I do believe that any more focus or attention to this group is taking our energies away from progressing Morgans case.
My rabbit, you know is only one, you know, the one we are all looking for, I’ll call him justice. The 2nd rabbit is is not the one I’m looking for, and quite frankly a distraction, not to mention appalling in regards to what we are really trying ot achieve here on this forum.
Blink, thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we feel upset and are completely outraged at the use or misuse of Morgans name with this group. Truly an atrocity, an outcry.
However, I personally, will not give this group any attention, time or energy. I hope we all keep the focus on “one” rabbit, instead of two. We are so much stronger that way. Morgan needs us focused and straight up. :
Peace to the Harringtons.
Yes, I believe we have shined the appropriate amount of light and can put the rock back on, Morgan’s rock, that is.
B
B, for the love of…
I do not know why this system ya done got here won’t save my *Info*, but I promise I will make sure to check it every time henceforth. Can you change me back to J2K for that last post I just put up? Me sorry…
TIA
Your good, it did.
B
I would love to find something to stop this hate-filled group from protesting. Do they have a permit? Will they conform to the stipulations of the permit? That’s about all I can think of.
A few posts back, someone mentioned the case of the Matthew Shepard funeral harassment by this group. The case is now going to the Supreme Court for ruling, so I don’t know if there’s much more we can do from a legal standpoint.
I am sssooooo sorry!! The Marine who died was Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder and his father’s name is Albert Snyder. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/30/marines-father-ordered-pay-protesters-court-fees/
Oh, and here’s a sorta coincidence (geographically speaking) – the Supreme Court case (Snyder v. Phelps) involving these punks (accepted by the SC in early March) was based on the decision of an Appellate Court in Richmond, Va. The decision acknowledged that the WB’s speech (at the funeral of a soldier killed in Iraq) was indeed “highly offensive” and “repugnant,” but that it was ultimately “intended to spark debate about issues” that concerned the group.
Basically, while the government can adopt regulations protecting the sanctity of solemn events, such as funerals, the Va. appeals court held that “some ‘breathing space’ for contentious speech is essential” under the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause.
According to news coverage specific to this case (emphasis mine):
“The Westboro group, bearing such signs as ‘Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and ‘God Hates You,’ along with more vulgar messages, *complied with local ordinances*. It wasn’t until Cpl. Snyder’s father, Albert Snyder, saw television coverage of the protest that he learned of it. Mr. Snyder later discovered a screed on the church’s Web site attacking him for raising his son a Catholic and supporting his service in the armed forces. Mr. Snyder sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress, and ultimately was awarded $5 million in damages. In September, however, the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the judgment (citing the ol’ Free Speech Clause in the FA).”
And this is how it’s done, folks.
(sigh…)
I realize that this group of evil monsters want a response from us, and we really shouldn’t give them what they want, BUT..
This is our beautiful shiny Morgan we’re talking about. Her life was taken from her by some freak/s who got off on what they did to her, and they are still running amongst the rest of the world, free as a bird. Otoh, our dear sweet Morgan, is gone. Her family is grieving a horrible loss, as are so many of us. And these hate mongers, they want to use Morgan name as a means to spread their hate, while the rest of us are focused on finding the monster/s who did this to her.
Dr. Harrington, Gil & Alex, do not deserve to have to read or see or hear the lies that this group is set on spewing. They want to take Morgan’s beautiful memory and make a mockery of her. They want to taint her beautiful life, once again, and take away all that was special about her, in the same inhumane way as the BG/s did. This is is so very wrong in every sense.
I, for one, cannot, and will not ignore this. Morgan did nothing wrong. She went out for a night with her so called friends, to hear music that she loved and to have a good time, as any young woman her age might do, but she didn’t come home. She was brutally murdered and left in a field to rot like she was trash. For Dr. Harrington, Gil & Alex to even have to think about dealing with crazies, is more than I can take. They have had to deal with way more than any parent should have to deal with, and I am furious about it.
I am contacting a group that has helped to ward off this cult before. They are called the Patriot Guard Riders http://www.patriotguard.org/), and they’ve come up against Westboro more than once, and are usually very happy to do so. They are very genuine law abiding riders who are ready to serve their cause at a moments notice. The contact person for the state of Va is: James “jborling” Borling and his email is: jborling@radford.edu
I don’t have any idea if they will or can help, but I will send as many emails as possible in order to find out. This group has got to be stopped. I can not stand by and watch them once again desecrate Morgans memory, and a family that has endured more than enough already!
And B, I also love your idea about protesting with signs that make fun of them. I wish I could be one standing before them, laughing at them, with a big huge sign in my hand. Unfortunately, I can’t, so I’ll do what I can by contacting the Patriots…
Ugh. I thought I smelled something foul…
These moral barbarians are – as many here have aptly stated – nothing more than media-savvy hatemongers led by a manipulative psychopath who has made a living by pummeling universally sympathetic, grief-stricken victims of tragedies with the Constitution. I mean, if you’re looking for the most base, vile, disgraceful money-making scheme in the history of this nation, well this strategically deranged family scores in the Top 5.
That said, it helps to recognize that these jackasses literally scan the Internet for soldiers’ funeral notices, for headlines regarding young victims of car accidents, for innocent murder victims, etc., and picketing the pain of those who gather to grieve them. It’s the butter on their bread, as it were – in fact, the scroll of press releases on the WB Web page detailing their current targets is tagged “Bread from the Oven.” (Could we be any more transparent? crikey…)
B – we actually *did* have them in Jersey (well, South Jersey, that is). They came to Cherry Hill last fall to “protest” one of the high schools having a gay students club, selecting a patch of public space (It’s all about finding those easements, baby!) that just happened to be alongside one of the municipality’s most heavily traveled (at 35-mph) roads during rush-hour. They timed it for the *peak* of the morning rush, of course, making sure every media outlet in the region had a press release.
Township officials hemmed and hawed on what to do, got advice from the Solicitor – along the lines of what redly’s been explaining here – then ultimately jacked up police presence that morning to … wait for it… shut down the roadway. Well, to redirect traffic through a detour, causing potential outraged onlookers to miss the sight entirely (and placing “Detour” signs well in advance of the thoroughfare, as not to greatly inconvenience commuters). I can’t recall the reason that was publicly cited… something probably infuriatingly ambiguous (to the WestBors) – but it didn’t matter; buses and vehicles headed into the high school for the day or dropping students off were ushered into the lot via a side access road, and even a few tenacious news photogs and a cameraman wanting to shoot the “scene” had to park at a distance and hoof it. Suffice it to say, the whole spectacle was essentially a non-event (and only about 10 of them showed anyway). Pathetic.
But it’s not always an option to redirect traffic. I prefer the method I’ve read here of turning WB’s shenanigans into a benefit for the groups of people being victimized by their hate speech. Watch this dude rock out the idea at a WB “protest” in Chicago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Of_2ykZpQ&feature=player_embedded
Observer – I so totally agree with you that this group should never be validated.
My thoughts right now are how do we inform each other about this disgusting cult and not validate them with just doing that? They are media whores – among other things.
We need to know that evil presents itself through them – so how do we share their existence without giving them the undue attention? I am just asking this – for pondering – not really expecting an answer.
I knew about these nuts when Miss Lauren Burk was murdered in Auburn. (I have made reference to her murder previously with respect to our discussion on campus safety.) They decided to make an appearance at her funeral.
I do believe that at her private service in her home town, they were ignored. Auburn held a memorial in the coliseum and only students and officials (??) were admitted – hence, keeping the whacks out.
They had announced they would be there and as I recall ( as best as I can), the locals (we in the deep south here!) said come on down, and see if some vigilantes take care of this. To the best of my knowledge, their presence ( numbers) was so small, it was insignificant.
I do believe they made their statements/protests at the young woman’s funeral from UNC that was murdered as well.
So they just watch the news and pounce on injustice and then show up to PROCLAIM whatever it is they are trying to?
It is good to know about their existence but they are just preying on our social injustices. Morgan just happens to be the latest for us. And I totally mean that with no disrespect to her or her family. Morgan is a beacon right now for injustice and they are jumping on the bandwagon.
I think we just did. We are informed, we attempt to protect the Harrington’s, and we proceed as usual.
B
I thought it was interesting tonight Bill O’Reilly opened his show with a discussion of violence, specifically Westboro Baptist group. He did not relate anything to Morgan’s case, he spoke of Lt Snyder’s funeral interruption.
http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly/ Video Link/Talking Point
Yep.
He is willing to pay the $16K if his Dad is held to pay it in court.
B
Stupid Connie Comments: for real people!
I am so stupid I thought Lady Antebellum meant a southern belle not a rock group!
I am so stupid I read where Josh and Susan Powell met at a LDS meeting- I thought it was Learning Disabilites Meeting not Latter Day Saints.
I am so stupid my grandmother who babysat me- told the Lord is everywhere so I was afraid to go to the bathroom for at least 24 hrs. so the Lord would not “see anything “.
Blink,
As I have carried around rage about this group since this morning, I realize that many are so right on this site, that to recognize this Hate family cause is to give them what they are craving so badly.
I will offer up prayers for the Harringtons. May they be blanketed with the power of love instead of hate, power instead of hopelessness, and truth instead of lies.
and may the FBI be listening….as BLINK whispers in their ears.
This is makes me sad and angry. It is a reminder to all of us that there are even more sick twisted lunatics running amuck in this world.
Prayers go out to Lt Snyder’s, The Harrington’s, and other families attacked by the WBG.
Susan says:
March 30, 2010 at 11:25 am
Your post should be set in calligraphy. You’ve enriched me with your words and made me stronger in my support of Dan, Gil, Alex and their loved ones. We are way stronger than any evil force. We are filled with love, we are relaxed with love, and we are fueled by love to continue to give voice to finding justice for Morgan and any other sisters or brothers who need us.
Oh Dear Lord Connie! Don’t do that to yourself. If I may say, no one here expects you to beat yourself up. It’s hard to get what someone means everytime through the internet.
I think your LDS misunderstanding is a riot.
True dat.
B
Hey, J-girl — I was waiting for you to weigh in on this issue. It’s truly a “coincidence” that the 4th Circuit ruled on this in Richmond — just up the road a piece from that courthouse is the famed church where Patrick Henry arose and avowed: give me liberty or give me death.
Gosh, what a dichotomy if ever there were one. On the one hand, the 1st Amendment was fought hard for — I’ve recently been doing some geneology, and contained in the first census records in the 1700′s, my X # of great grandfathers defied his king and fought for the Americans in the Revolutionary War — Then my pal, Mr. jefferson (I like to pretend we could have been friends — ha) — he helped draft that precious document –
That said, I’m a ball of emotion over this —
So many great ideas have been brought forth — I still like the one where the poster (sorry, forget who) stated the Buddist belief and to let this flow thru you and transform it into something of light —
Thanks for your post — I still want us to write that book — boy, won’t this make an interesting chapter —
if you’re still interested, you can email me at skyboc@hotmail.com — Blink, it’s okay to post that — really
>>J2K says:
March 30, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Oh, and here’s a sorta coincidence (geographically speaking) – the Supreme Court case (Snyder v. Phelps) involving these punks (accepted by the SC in early March) was based on the decision of an Appellate Court in Richmond, Va.
Justice, at 11:09 PM — love your post — absolutely states how I am feeling —
Boy, I wouldn’t mind playing “hot potato” in the midst of this group — I’m sure Morgan wouldn’t mind if we borrowed a few of her rocks from her bridge — like Fish’s boulder would be a good start : )
J2K- just finished watching your clip which led me to other clips- It is sad that people are so easily led to believe preposterous things.
It is a shame that they can not see how off balance their words are- In another clip they are protesting Jewish people- a woman wears a hoodie that reads Jews killed Jesus- Well madam, if you hate all Jewish people wouldn’t that include Jesus of Nazareth?
I hope the folks in C-Ville will throw a fundraiser as the answer to their protest- and then for every donation they get- send a thank you card.
Thanks for the clip-
J2K – I watched your video. What a better world it would be if there were more people like the young man who organized the fundraiser. This
group sets out to inflame and incite innocent folks (usually those who are weak and hurting at the time) using religion as a front. When people counter protest they get what they want. If something is organized across the street it would be good if it were peaceful, maybe some posters of Morgan and other victims of violence, some good music blaring to drown out those nuts, and of course some cans to collect money for a good cause. If people stay happy it defeats their purpose. It could be a positive to refresh the public about Morgan. Morgan would love it if everyone showed up in a tie dyed shirt rocking to some music for a good cause. No?
Spotty – laughed at your post about the crowd’s signs, especially the dog with the I love fags sign. How true, dogs and cats love us all if we are kind to them. If I lived close I’d head down with my pack of dogs with their own signs. haha
As the country song says … God is great. Beer is good. People are crazy.
Oh, for heavens’ sake! Sometimes I think the world has gone stark, raving mad.
The posts here are so full of good ideas and kindness, it offset the disgust I had reading about these nuts and restored my peace of mind.
If I may quote from the book of 1John, which I wish these people would read:
“By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked… The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now… Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
I’ve been sitting hear thinking about this group. The conclusion I’ve reached is that it is best to just ignore them. I’ll explain.
I really don’t understand how what they do is legal. With all the hate crime laws, and laws regarding libel and slander… with people getting awarded judgements just for talking negatively about someone- I don’t understand how they are allowed to do it. That said, if the Courts are not going to uphold rulings against them, what are we as a people to do?
There is no talking sense to them. Just listen to the Sean Hannity interview. These people are mentally ill. They are not normal human beings. Period. You can’t even talk to people like that. They picket funerals of innocent kids. They picket funerals of the soldiers that died fighting for the very freedom they use to spread their hate.
If we are to live and die by the First Amendment- we have to accept the good with the bad. However agregious that is, as it currently stands, that is their right. I don’t like it… but it is.
It sounds to me as if they are basically making their living off of lawsuits and such. They get free promotion by media coverage. My idea to fight these people is to start writing to news networks and newspaper publishers and ask them to stop all coverage of them. Stop counter-protesting them… simply act like they aren’t even there. Disarm them. They are accomplishing their goal just by getting people to acknowledge them. Reacting to their hate with more hate just furthers their agenda.
If this was a growing problem, I’d think differently. But this is a small group of completely deranged crazies, apparently mostly one family (I wonder what their God thinks about in-breeding, just look at ‘em). If everybody just walks by them, ignores them- and the media stops covering them… eventually they will die out. Without a voice, they can’t be heard. Without an opponent, they can’t argue. Without an audience, they can’t preach.
They would end up just a bunch of losers standing on a street corner with signs.
And we can pray that it rains.
thanks for your speculations, total a …. and, it appears ‘the blinkmeister’ has just thrown us another bone regarding a hot spot in north garden…
“Nobody has lost focus whatsoever regarding this area, I can promise you that, in fact, it is about to get hotter than ever. Tell me how I can help you, and I will try. I believe it is important to not allow a hate monger to desicrate the name of Morgan and her family, surely you can appreciate that.
B”
Well, these hate mongers deserve quite the reception, don’t they? It would be a hoot if the VT pep band, The Marching Virginians, showed up and proceeded to play the “Hokie Pokie” and the VT fight song throughout their demonstration, with some Metallica thrown in for good measure.
Justice… I am a member of the VA Patriot Guard and know Borlo well. I wish our group could be there, but we are only involved with the Military. I am sure Borlo has responded to your ?’s by now.
With that said – IGNORE – these folks. They are full of themselves and most are attorneys just looking for that moment to bring forth a law suit to fund their cause, whether it be one person or a city – any opportunity to sue.
I have been around them at funerals, they keep that calendar full of events and don’t show at most. They have dwindled in size (only a few 3 or 4 showing up) as they prey on the next one to get riled up. Hoping once again for a law suit to fund their transportation etc. They are not worth it. They have to get permits in most areas now before being allowed to protest – therefore the communities are dealing with them the best they can. IE rerouting traffic, closing down roads etc to go around them.
We (PGR) are always on guard for them, we keep our back to them, ignore them, no eye contact etc and show the families the respect they deserve. It’s just best to put these folks on the permanent IGNORE button as they don’t deserve anything more IMO. LE is very aware of their intentions to show and picket – LE is always on guard for these folks.
These people care not one whit about Morgan Harrington, a dead soldier who gave his/her life for us and for them, a gay, Jewish or Catholic organization. Their goal in life is to create strife. They’re filled with hate and they just can’t stand it so they want to spread it to others. If they weren’t planning to protest at VT, they would find a grieving family burying a fallen hero. This protest is not just about Morgan, they will also be targeting gay students and a Jewish organization. I don’t have the name right at hand, but I believe the Jewish group has decided to ignore them completely. To be ignored when seeking attention is the worse insult.
fish says:
March 30, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Blink:
I might be a bit confused on this but sometimes people hate what they are or more importantly, what they hide!
Could a parent of a different generation be hiding what his son is and why his son may have extreme rage against women and himself?
He trys to keep his secret a secret, so in his evil head, he hangs with an even bigger evil?
4 boys(cowards) in black.
Yes, very possible. Abuse is highly cyclical.
B
————–
Blink, has LE been able to identify who these 4 BIB are?
They are simply not validating any accounts publicly, so I can’t say.
B
Sky, it’s b/c of Patrick Henry’s words that I choose to let this go. I am of the opinion he and our beloved TJ saw just this sort of thing coming and decided liberty was important enough. It may be oversimplifying on my part, but I agree.
Now … if there is a legal loophole, of course, go for it. I don’t know enough from that angle. And … if I could be in B’burg on April 9 and help fund raise for what I consider the “good” causes, I would.
I still say it’s an opportunity to fund raise for Gil’s Africa charity. In fact, I’ll send a check to honor Morgan and the true victims in this: the children of this group.
The thing that might devastate me the most is if Gil Harrington allows this nonsense to influence her decision re: her charity trip. I want her to get that opportunity to wear her nurse’s hat again. Who am I, of course, but I bet it would feel good.
I’m trying to write a fax to Harley Davidson of Roanoke 540 562 5427
to ask that they come make their thunder in Blacksburg and, as you know by now, I need some help with the wording. I am saying
Please come to Blacksburg on April 9, 2010 to reve up your thunder to drown out the hate spewed by WBC spewing hatred towards dear Morgan Harrington….I want to ask them to just go block the noise of the hate group, but I am not sure if I am saying it right. Does anyone else want to send a fax to them?
Spotty, that is hilarious! Thanks for sharing that creative response to the loons. Gotta’ love nonviolence.
Connie, thanks for your apology and that’s where you need to stop. We all say and do things we wish we could take back or do over. I am sure all of us were somewhat trigger happy after reading about the Westboro Church of Garbage. Apology accepted by everyone here so please lighten up on yourself.
See what I mean? Kind and well intentioned people abound. Thank you all for that.
B
B, would you be willing to email me the link to where you saw the protest sign WBC will use during this protest? I’m not going to post it, ever, but I would like the Patriot Guard Riders to see what I’m talking about…
On another note, from the PGR History page: http://www.patriotguard.org/Home/OurHistory/tabid/145/Default.aspx
“to strategize and form a battle plan to combat Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church”
AND:
“On the 18th of October 2005 the Patriot Guard name was established”
The 18th of October, the day that Morgan was 1st reported missing.
Continue to RIP sweet shiny Morgan. Your name and memory will not be tarnished by hate filled mongers from Hell. You and your family are so very loved, and always will be. Love has always been stronger than hate, and it will continue to be…
Justice, no need, but thanks for your support, they are military based only, as was just posted on here.
B
Morning Blink –
Any truth to this? Gil not “Jill”, makes me wonder….
“Jill Harrington, the mother of slain college student Morgan Harrington, announced Tuesday that she believes that her daughter was raped before she was killed last year.
Jill Harrington released this statement after an update briefing with law enforcement officials….
http://www.examiner.com/x-39427-Charlottesville-City-Buzz-Examiner~y2010m3d31-Updates-of-ongoing-stories-around-Charlottesville
Yes, Gil believes that, but there really is no excuse for spelling her name wrong?
B