Spring Break
Holding up their message
Church group pickets production, community silently responds
Corbin Hosler
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: News
About 350 students and community members gathered on campus Friday, Oct. 24 to protest a church group that was picketing OCU's production of "The Laramie Project."
There were five members of the Westboro Baptist Church who protested against the production's showing.
"The Laramie Project" is a production detailing the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay man.
Waving signs, group preached their message of hate against the gay and lesbian community.
Protester Timothy Phelps said the group was doing their "duty" by protesting the play.
"You can't show this production without spreading God's word," he said. "I'm here to prove anything, I'm just here to fan the flames and preach God's word.
"My purpose here is to preach."
Students and community members lined up across the street from the protesters in support of the production.
"I thought the silent protest went great," said Jake Miller, English senior. "I think it brought the campus community together and showed school unity in a meaningful way.
"I don't think they expected this many people to show up."
Police Chief Lyndel Harris said both groups were peaceful and didn't cause any problems.
"It went great," he said. "I only had to ask one person to step back behind the tape.
"All of our protesters were very cooperative."
Harris said the church group didn't cause any problems.
"They stood in their area very quietly," he said. "Maybe they were intimidated by all of the silent protesters."
There were five members of the Westboro Baptist Church who protested against the production's showing.
"The Laramie Project" is a production detailing the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay man.
Waving signs, group preached their message of hate against the gay and lesbian community.
Protester Timothy Phelps said the group was doing their "duty" by protesting the play.
"You can't show this production without spreading God's word," he said. "I'm here to prove anything, I'm just here to fan the flames and preach God's word.
"My purpose here is to preach."
Students and community members lined up across the street from the protesters in support of the production.
"I thought the silent protest went great," said Jake Miller, English senior. "I think it brought the campus community together and showed school unity in a meaningful way.
"I don't think they expected this many people to show up."
Police Chief Lyndel Harris said both groups were peaceful and didn't cause any problems.
"It went great," he said. "I only had to ask one person to step back behind the tape.
"All of our protesters were very cooperative."
Harris said the church group didn't cause any problems.
"They stood in their area very quietly," he said. "Maybe they were intimidated by all of the silent protesters."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Dustin Bolton
posted 10/25/08 @ 8:14 PM CST
I just wanted to share the pictures I took at the protest that I posted on Flickr. I figured you might enjoy them:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dustout/sets/72157608359945940/
Liz
posted 10/26/08 @ 3:45 PM CST
I'm so proud of my school!
Kenna Griffin
posted 10/26/08 @ 10:04 PM CST
Amazing. I cannot tell you how proud I am to be a faculty member and alum of this university. Just when you think our students can't be any better, they prove you wrong. (Continued…)
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