Monday, January 21, 2013
Dozens of counter-protesters showed up at four Lehigh Valley churches Sunday where the controversial Westboro Baptist Church said it would protest.
Westboro Baptist Church's threat to protest at four Lehigh Valley churches on Sunday was, in the end, an idle one. The controversial church known for its extreme views on homosexuality and protests at military funerals, was a no-show. But the Kansas-based church rallied a diverse crowd that included a Sunday school teacher, a cigar afficionado club, motorcyclists in chaps and college students, to get up early on a frigid Sunday morning to publicly and peacefully take a stand against Westboro's message of hate and intolerance. Westboro's potential presence here was enough to get Ryan Bitler, 22, of Bethlehem, out of bed and attend his first protest. Bitler is a Pennsylvania National Guardsman who served a year in Afghanistan as a machine …
40.61348
-75.54537
Springhouse Rd & Walbert Ave, Allentown, PA
/articles/protesters-unite-against-westboro-baptist-message-of-hate
/locations/8643952
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Westboro Baptists did not show up at Asbury United Methodist and First Baptist churches in South Whitehall, or two Allentown churches, Sunday morning but counter-protesters were there in case they did.
Update: 10:45 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 20 Westboro Baptists do not show up at First Baptist Church in South Whitehall, which was the group's fourth targeted church in the Lehigh Valley. South Whitehall Police Lt. John Christman, who is at First Baptist, said, "It’s a non-event. It’s been non-violent. It’s more social than anything." As for the controversial Westboro Baptists, he said, "I feel fortunate they didn’t show." Counter-protesters came to First Baptist, as they did to three other churches earlier Sunday, turning out in case Westboro Baptists did show up. Many carried signs against hate. There were two South Whitehall police cars and several officers at the church location. Update: 10:20 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 20 Counter-protest group at the…
Friday, January 18, 2013
Volunteers are planning to counter Westboro Baptist's anti-gay message of hate in the Lehigh Valley on Sunday.
Friday 9 a.m. Update: Lehigh Valley Live reports that an attorney for Westboro Baptist has confirmed the group will protest in the Lehigh Valley on Sunday. Original Story: Counter-protests are in the works in response to a Westboro Baptist press release stating the Kansas-based anti-gay group is coming to the Lehigh Valley on Sunday. It's not known if Westboro members will actually show up at the four local churches they say are "masquerading as whorehouses." Westboro failed to show up as threatened at the wake for Sandy Hook school principal Dawn Hochsprung in Connecticut last month. A volunteer biker brigade was there to shield mourners in case Westboro members protested the solemn event. South Whitehall police are planning extra patrols…
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The controversial anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church says it plans to protest at four Lehigh Valley churches Jan. 20.
Threats of protests by Westboro Baptist Church have a Lehigh Valley congregation uneasy and police planning extra patrols on Sunday. Folk are "a little ill at ease" said First Baptist Church secretary Kim Nemeth, who learned of the planned protest from police on Tuesday. Officials don't want people to feel inhibited when they come to worship at the South Whitehall church, she said. Westboro says it is planning to stage protests at four Lehigh Valley churches including the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, according to a press release posted on the group's website. Diocesan spokesman Matthew Kerr told Patch on Wednesday that he's aware of the protest but offered no further comment. "Often they don't show. We're hoping that occurs," said …
Jay Bell
1:35 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Westboro Baptist Church is just out for publicity and money. They don't care anything about God, per se. They are political prostitutes, plain and simple. www.firebrandcental.com more ›