The Westboro Baptist Church is back! And this time, they're taking their act overseas. The group is protesting a college in Basingstoke, England for putting on a performance of The Laramie Project, a play about the tragic death of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. WBC originally rose to notoriety protesting at Shepard's funeral.
The Independent reports, "Lesbian and gay groups have already promised to hold counter
demonstrations if the protest goes ahead and some activists on internet
forums have even suggested using force to expel Westboro followers from
Basingstoke if necessary.
Jach Holroyde, a campaign director of
the Queer Youth Network, which has vowed to hold a peaceful protest,
said: 'Allowing these people entry into the UK would send a very clear
message to bigots – that this country tolerates hatred against people
based on their sexuality or gender preference.'"
So what do you guys think? Should they even be allowed in the country? And what about our British readers, how do you feel knowing these lunatics are coming to your side of the pond? Let me know your thoughts…
– Andy
UPDATE: The British Government has banned the Phelps clan from entering the country, read their statement after the JUMP:
The BBC reports on the government response:
"The UK Border Agency said it opposed 'extremism in all its forms.'
A spokesman added: 'Both these individuals [Phelps and his daughter] have engaged in
unacceptable behaviour by inciting hatred against a number of
communities. We will continue to stop those who want to spread extremism,
hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our
country.
The exclusions policy is targeted at all those who seek to
stir up tension and provoke others to violence regardless of their
origins and beliefs.'"
No, Don’t let them in! But how can you really stop them?
I dont pretend to know much about UK policy on freedom of speech but i dont really think they have the same laws and enforcements on it. If that is the case than i dont see why UK’s police department cant “politely” escort the people off the premises if they begin to rally. It is not like this is some kinda of gathering of people, its a play. There is no reason for there to be a Bitch Party on the lawns of the college. If not the police though the students of the play can go to the dean and ask if volunteers can come out to help protect the school from possible vandalism and possible acts of violence towards students and viewers alike.
Actually they are totally and fully out of line.
(American here)
IF I recall UK policy is even more pro-gay and a head of the US position. I would welcome to see the Westboro Baptist Church be brought up on whatever charges your island can bring against them.
MstrPBK
St. Paul MN USA
Who cares….free speech. If you don’t want to listen…then don’t. Just like if you don’t want to be around someone, then don’t.
I really dont understand this cult of haters, they have nothing better to than to protest something that has nothing to do with them. They are basically a group of family members that have been (in)bred to hate. Fuck those idiots.
Actually, the UK has rather different policies and laws regarding that. It’s much easier to be charged with public nuisance laws, and the process for filing for permission to hold a demonstration is such that they’d never get approved. I’m pretty sure there will be arrests, but they’ll probably be deported and banned (both individually AND as a blanket ban for all active members of their organization) from the UK permanently.
The American obsession with freedom of speech gets a little carried away sometimes. There are occasions with people should simply be told to bugger off. In New Zealand we blocked the entry of a professor who is a renowned Holocaust denier because his message was unwelcome and considered grieviously offensive to too many people. Why should this be different…
Let them spend a bundle of bucks on the trip. Let them make asses of themselves. They’ve appeared here in Seattle at least a couple times, to let many of us know we’re going to hell. They give Topeka, KS a very bad name.
Den
This group made itself infamous by disrupting military funerals. How low can you go? John the Baptist wss quite a guy but I’m not sure he would hang around these people.
the authorities in the UK have already said Phelps and his daughter will both be denied entry to the UK. Many countries are doing this kind of thing. Here in Toronto he was going to protest a play satirizing him. Everyone showed up to counter protest, but they never showed. We found out later that he never made it past the border.
Since the UK has just refused entry to a foreign (in)dignitary on the basis of his anti-Muslim hate speech, I’d love to see them do the same to these loons.
I think it’s odd that in a time of economic problems in our country, that this church seems to have no problem sending these idiots overseas to protest and not worry about how it appears or the cost. Is this type of crap what offerings in a church are used for? When you hear about all these “religious” people spreading hate, carrying signs like above-God Hates Fags-would you ever want to be a part of that? They are so worried we are all out recruiting more gays, shouldn’t they be recruiting new christians? People have really turned religion into a weapon of hate against those who are different. Funny how they pick and choose what to focus on, including interpretations of the Bible and taking things out of context to prove their “point.”
(I am a Unitarian Universalist)
excerpt from above: “… John the Baptist was quite a guy but I’m not sure he would hang around these people. …”
The church (Baptist or Christian) has had significant changes since they first appeared historically. Wonders if they have even considered their religious roots?
They were at my school Tuesday of this week. Their 15 protesters met about 400 students in opposition.
They looked pretty silly.