We had a horrible, horrible accident near here on Friday, 4 teenagers, cheerleaders on their way home from a football game/birthday party (at McDonalds, so no alcohol involved) - in bad weather, collided with a car, the 4 girls were killed, as well as a grandmother in the car, and the unborn (mom was 32 weeks pregnant) baby of a passenger in the car.
So the Westboro group plans to protest. How much more horrible can they be? At least they decided against their original plan of protesting at the funerals, and now plan to protest at the high school the girls attended. A local pastor said it best, he said just because your name is xxx Baptist Church doesn't mean you are a Baptist and doesn't mean you are a church.
http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/33507134.html
from the article:
SCOTT COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) -- As a community mourns the loss of the four young cheerleaders, and a grandmother and unborn baby in the second car, Westboro Baptist Church, known for protesting soldiers' funerals, claims it will show up in Scott County to picket.
With one teenager buried Wednesday, and another lying in the funeral home, people here say they're disgusted to hear that a group would take advantage of this tragedy to make a political statement.
Flags fly at half-staff, and you can't drive far in Scott Co. without seeing ribbons, in memory of those who died.
As everyone here stands united in their time of suffering, news that a group may use this event to protest is very upsetting.
Resident Amanda Ward says, "I just don't think it's right. If something happened to one of them, they would want the same kind of respect shown."
Resident Ronnie Brock says, "Well, I'd say they don't need any extra grief at all with the tragedy that's happened. I'm sure the families have been through a lot and they'd just like a little bit of peace."
The group that plans to protest is from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. Their news release says "God Hates Tennessee" and says the cheerleaders "died for Tennessee's sins."
The group that's known for strong anti-homosexual views told us by phone they now plan to protest at the high school, rather than at the funerals.
Church spokesperson Shirley Phelps says, "To help you connect the dots from your rebellion against God, your idols, your false gods, your filthy manner of life, teaching your children that God is a liar and rebellion against His standards."
Wherever they choose, the protesters will not be welcome.
Scott Appalachian Industries Executive Director Scott Appalachian Industries "You know, what goes around comes around, and people ought to just be careful."
The sign in front of Scott Appalachian Industries is just one of many indications of his support for the victims' families.
West says, "I don't know that I would want to find people in their lowest time of despair and try to make misery even worse."
There's another sign of support outside Pizza Plus. Owner David Daugherty put it there. He says the thought of protestors here is more than he can stand.
Daugherty says, "I can't believe something like this would happen, but you've got those people out there that would do stuff like this."
Sheriff Anthony Lay refused to go on camera, saying he doesn't want to do anything to give publicity to a group like this, but he says the Scott County Sheriff's Department will provide security and make sure there are no disruptions at any funerals.
-----
So the Westboro group plans to protest. How much more horrible can they be? At least they decided against their original plan of protesting at the funerals, and now plan to protest at the high school the girls attended. A local pastor said it best, he said just because your name is xxx Baptist Church doesn't mean you are a Baptist and doesn't mean you are a church.
http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/33507134.html
from the article:
SCOTT COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) -- As a community mourns the loss of the four young cheerleaders, and a grandmother and unborn baby in the second car, Westboro Baptist Church, known for protesting soldiers' funerals, claims it will show up in Scott County to picket.
With one teenager buried Wednesday, and another lying in the funeral home, people here say they're disgusted to hear that a group would take advantage of this tragedy to make a political statement.
Flags fly at half-staff, and you can't drive far in Scott Co. without seeing ribbons, in memory of those who died.
As everyone here stands united in their time of suffering, news that a group may use this event to protest is very upsetting.
Resident Amanda Ward says, "I just don't think it's right. If something happened to one of them, they would want the same kind of respect shown."
Resident Ronnie Brock says, "Well, I'd say they don't need any extra grief at all with the tragedy that's happened. I'm sure the families have been through a lot and they'd just like a little bit of peace."
The group that plans to protest is from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. Their news release says "God Hates Tennessee" and says the cheerleaders "died for Tennessee's sins."
The group that's known for strong anti-homosexual views told us by phone they now plan to protest at the high school, rather than at the funerals.
Church spokesperson Shirley Phelps says, "To help you connect the dots from your rebellion against God, your idols, your false gods, your filthy manner of life, teaching your children that God is a liar and rebellion against His standards."
Wherever they choose, the protesters will not be welcome.
Scott Appalachian Industries Executive Director Scott Appalachian Industries "You know, what goes around comes around, and people ought to just be careful."
The sign in front of Scott Appalachian Industries is just one of many indications of his support for the victims' families.
West says, "I don't know that I would want to find people in their lowest time of despair and try to make misery even worse."
There's another sign of support outside Pizza Plus. Owner David Daugherty put it there. He says the thought of protestors here is more than he can stand.
Daugherty says, "I can't believe something like this would happen, but you've got those people out there that would do stuff like this."
Sheriff Anthony Lay refused to go on camera, saying he doesn't want to do anything to give publicity to a group like this, but he says the Scott County Sheriff's Department will provide security and make sure there are no disruptions at any funerals.
-----
They are not filled with the love of God, they are full of nothing more then vile hate. 
