Thread: Keep Westboro Church away from Powell Meorial.

1717 South Union Avenue Tacoma, WA 98405-1997

We will be out in full force to help create a buffer so this memorial can take place peacefully. Please meet us at Lodge Room of the Tacoma Elks lodge in Tacoma by 9 AM Saturday

A notoriously anti-gay church plans to picket Saturday’s funeral for Charlie and Braden Powell and will be counterprotested by Occupy Seattle.

Margie Phelps, daughter of the Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church’s founder, tweeted Wednesday night that the church will attend the boys’ memorial service. The protest is to “remind” Gov. Chris Gregoire “they died because of her rebellion,” a reference to her support of same-sex marriages.

Gregoire is expected to sign into law legislation passed by the Legislature allowing same-sex couples to marry in Washington. The measure - expected to land on her desk early next week - was approved by the state House Wednesday and by the state Senate last week.

Charlie Powell, 7, and Braden Powell, 5, were killed Sunday after their father, Josh Powell, blew up his Graham-area house in a gasoline-fueled inferno when they were dropped off for a supervised visit.

A memorial service for the boy is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Life Center Church in Tacoma.

Phelps’ tweet did not explain how picketing the funeral was a protest against same-sex marriage, but the devastating case has garnered national attention and the boys’ service is expected to be widely attended.

In a later tweet referencing a story about Washington legalizing same-sex marriage, Phelps wrote “This is why God’s cursed you w Josh Powells blowing up kids.”

Word of Westboro’s plans spread quickly online and Occupy Seattle sounded a call for its members to counter protest the church. The group’s Facebook page said the church “has decided to capitalize on these sad events by bringing their unique brand of hate to Washington.”

Occupy Seattle said its members don’t intend to disrupt the funeral, but want to “protect it from Westboro’s abhorrent message.”

Westboro is a small church known for its extreme stance against homosexuality. Its members have gained infamy by protesting funerals of American soldiers and celebrities.

They believe God punishes the United States for its tolerance of sin, which they believe includes accepting homosexuality.

We will be out in full force to help create a buffer so this memorial can take place peacefully. Please meet us at Life Center Church in Tacoma by 10 AM Saturday

Free speech and all, but those people need to be dumped en masse into the Grand Canyon.

i hope their bus crashes in a fiery blaze

Heard that a contingent of local 81s might be there, along with members of a number of other clubs.

Even though this isn't a military funeral, you might want to contact the local Patriot Guard group. I would bet they would be willing to help.

I swear the westboro chuch is protesting anything and everything now just to stay in the news. Hope they stay away.

I will see you there at 9am at the Elks Lodge.

I wonder if they're coming in the night before and staying at Hotel. Wouldn't it be a shame if their cars and bus got blocked in by someone who had parked in front or behind them.

These folks hope for confrontations that produce lawsuits.
It is as much probing for $$, maybe moreso than it is for making their twisted point.
Toss in the occutards and you now have a major distraction that is going to detract from
the mourning process for the loved ones.
The whole thing just sucks.

Originally Posted by Cougfan2

I wonder if they're coming in the night before and staying at Hotel. Wouldn't it be a shame if their cars and bus got blocked in by someone who had parked in front or behind them.

Or lit on fire.

Originally Posted by WhyteCheddar

These folks hope for confrontations that produce lawsuits.
It is as much probing for $$, maybe moreso than it is for making their twisted point.
Toss in the occutards and you now have a major distraction that is going to detract from
the mourning process for the loved ones.
The whole thing just sucks.

I don't think the MC guys care about lawsuits...the Westboro tards might get the attention, but not the money.

Shut em down but remember that they are all lawyers trolling for suits like WhyteCheddar says. Don't lose money over these clowns.

OTOH many of the Occupiers are anarchist anti-capitalist trouble makers and they don't have anything worth suing over. Yay Occupiers, go get em.

Originally Posted by WhyteCheddar

These folks hope for confrontations that produce lawsuits.
It is as much probing for $$, maybe moreso than it is for making their twisted point.
Toss in the occutards and you now have a major distraction that is going to detract from
the mourning process for the loved ones.
The whole thing just sucks.

You are correct in that regard. Practically the whole church are a bunch of lawyers from one big extended family. They fund all these trips mostly thru money they get from lawsuits.

Originally Posted by tattoo

1717 South Union Avenue Tacoma, WA 98405-1997

We will be out in full force to help create a buffer so this memorial can take place peacefully. Please meet us at Lodge Room of the Tacoma Elks lodge in Tacoma by 9 AM Saturday.

We will be out in full force to help create a buffer so this memorial can take place peacefully. Please meet us at Life Center Church in Tacoma by 10 AM Saturday

Soooooo, which is it????

All about nothing they cancelled in return for some radio time.

Josh Powell’s sons’ funeral protest cancelled by Westboro Church in exchange for air time - BlogPost - The Washington Post

I thought we didn't negotiate with terrorists!!

They need go drink some bad koolaid....

Originally Posted by Mark W.

All about nothing they cancelled in return for some radio time.

Josh Powell’s sons’ funeral protest cancelled by Westboro Church in exchange for air time - BlogPost - The Washington Post

Bunch of disgusting attention w*****

Originally Posted by KONE KILLER

They need go drink some bad koolaid....

We were talking at lunch today about Jim Jones and the Kool-aid fed to his followers. The idea was that the Westboro bunch needs a batch of Kool-aid and the ones that don't drink it need something else as fatal.

Originally Posted by Bigfoot

Shut em down but remember that they are all lawyers trolling for suits like WhyteCheddar says. Don't lose money over these clowns.

OTOH many of the Occupiers are anarchist anti-capitalist trouble makers and they don't have anything worth suing over. Yay Occupiers, go get em.

This works for them however because they'll sue the city for not protecting them.