Members of The Westboro Baptist Church, from Topeka, KS, are planning to picket the Maplewood Richmond Heights theater production of The Laramie Project, on Saturday.
The play is about the reaction, in Laramie, WY, to the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student in 1998.
The protest is planned from 1:15 to 2:00 p.m., before the 2:00 p.m. performance on Saturday, Oct. 20. The play’s opening night is Thursday (tonight) at 7:00.
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MRH Director of Communications Brian Adkisson said he was told there would be approximately eight picketers around the south end of Martini Avenue.
“They’ll have signs with very inflammatory slogans,” Adkisson said. “They traditionally will sing. They really kind of stick to themselves because they don’t want to necessarily cause a scene.”
He said he doesn’t know if there will be a counter-protest, but if it happens he hopes it will be peaceful and respectful.
MRH Superintendent Karen Hall, in an email to families today, said the school is working with the Maplewood Police Department to maintain a safe environment.
Members of Westboro Baptist Church protested homosexuality at Clayton High School last February. They have protested against homosexuality nationally, including at the funeral of a reportedly gay U.S. military member.
Read more about the Westboro Baptist protest at Clayton.
- Westboro Protest: Complete Clayton Coverage
- Westboro Response Detailed by Clayton High School
- Replay: Westboro Baptist Church Protests in Clayton and St. Peters
- Westboro Baptist Church Schedules Clayton High School Protest
- VIDEO: Westboro Baptist Church Protests at Clayton High School
- Westboro-Clayton Reactions: 'It Must Be a Hoax'
Pastor Steve Moseley, Maplewood Baptist Church
Also, I think its kind of hard to not "necessarily cause a scene" with the signs that the Westboro Baptist Church normally has (God hates Fa**)
It so happens that I am also a lesbian that has to share the immeasurable pride I feel in knowing that my high school has become so tolerant and open-minded that they are doing a production of The Laramie Project to educate people on the brutality that has come out of ignorance and fear. Living the discrimination personally, it fills my heart to know that my alma mater is clearly sending tolerant young adults out into the world. Bravo! I have no comment about the group choosing to demonstrate. I know Maplewood and all of my friends still there. That group will leave embarrassed for stepping on hallowed ground with that hatred.
Why can't the protesters find something better to do with their lives???? Such as acts of kindness, Helping the poor or disabled or so many other GOOD causes. The money they spend traveling could be used to help serve the people in their own community. This can't be a Church of God.