UPDATE 10:30am Saturday | Abovewe provide a short video of yesterday’s counter-protest at Wilson High School opposing demonstrators from the Westboro Baptist Church. The first portion of the video is shot by staging-live.lbpost.com managing editor Ryan ZumMallen and the second portion was sent to the staging-live.lbpost.com by WBC demonstrator Megan Marie.
staging-live.lbpost.com columnist Sander Wolff also provides an audio file from yesterday’s event, which you can open by clicking here.
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5:00pm Friday | Thousands of Wilson High students staged a peaceful rally against a handful of anti-gay protestors outside their campus this afternoon.
Demonstrators from the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas planned to stage an anti-gay demonstration outside the campus but were drowned out by the peaceful but spirited cries from students that spilled into the streets under police supervision.
“They wanted to make the school proud,” said Wilson High co-principal Sandy Blazer. “It was a nice, peaceful day considering we had 4,500 kids out here. I knew they would protest hate in a respectful way.”
LBUSD Superintendent Chris Steinhauser was also on hand.
“The kids and others that came did a great job of passive resistance,” he said. “It was a great day where Long Beach came out to say that hatred is not in the heart of this community.”
We’ll have much more to come, and if you’ve got photos of your own, feel free to send them to ryan@lbpost.com!
In addition, many people have commented that not all people from Kansas feel as the Westboro Baptist Church does. As a Wichita native, I could not agree more. Go Jayhawks!
Related Coverage
Thoughts On A Protest
Photos & A Message From The Westboro Baptist Church
Councilmembers Garcia & Schipske Denounce Westboro Baptist Church Anti-Gay Protest
Long Beach Dilemma: Protest Or Ignore The Gay Hate?
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Councilmember Robert Garcia waves goodbye to Westboro Baptist Church protestors as they drive away from Wilson High School with students chanting “Long Beach!” around them.
Photo submitted by Ron Sylvester. View the rest of his photos here.
Photo submitted by Ron Sylvester. View the rest of his photos here.
Photo submitted by Valerie Kelly from an earlier protest at Redondo & Willow.
Photo submitted by Valerie Kelly from an earlier protest at Redondo & Willow.
Photo submitted by Valerie Kelly from an earlier protest at Redondo & Willow.
Photo submitted by j mello
Photo submitted by j mello
Photo submitted by Wilson High sophomore Nick Koreivo
Photo submitted by Wilson High sophomore Nick Koreivo
Photo submitted by Wilson High sophomore Nick Koreivo
Photo submitted by Annie Parkhurst (with yellow sign)
Photo submitted by Megan Marie
Photo submitted by Matt Sun. Click here to view the rest of his photos.
Photo submitted by Krystina Shattles (right) with sister Madison (left).
Photo submitted by Wilson student Kendall Moran
Photo submitted by Wilson student Kendall Moran
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