Beth Wegemer, freshman sociology and psychology major, and Ashley Williams, freshman history major, hold signs in counter-protest against Westboro Baptist Church picketers Monday afternoon at Flint Hills Technical College, across the street from Emporia High School. Wegemer and Williams were two of nearly 100 counter-protesters that gathered in opposition of WBC members, who preach against homosexuality./PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

Members of P.R.I.D.E. protested alongside other Emporia State and Emporia High School students Monday afternoon against picketing held by Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka outside of Emporia High School.

“With the appearance of the anti-Christ, that is the beast Obama, in the White House, the time is so very short,” said Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of Fred Phelps, Westboro Baptist Church attorney and member. “The Lord is coming, America is doomed and they have only one course of action that will do at this hour. (They must) put away their idols, put away their false gods and put away their filthy manner of life and obey their God.”

Approximately 15 members of the WBC attended to protest and about 100 students counter protested. Members of WBC were protesting in Emporia in reaction to a being “put on trial for trumped up charges brought by a criminal D.A.,” their Web site said.

WBC members said that they speak out primarily against homosexuals and consider them to be evil.

“What they were doing was they were down here, picketing the high school to educate ‘our little brats’,” said Luke Wolford, sophomore sociology major and president of P.R.I.D.E. “We came out here because it’s only fair that they hear both sides. The goal of P.R.I.D.E. is to promote respect, to promote diversity and not to have that kind of hate, that kind of discrimination.”

But WBC members said they do not consider their picketing hateful or discrimination – they said they consider what they do to be loving.

“You call it picketing because that’s just the vernacular that’s used in this generation,” Phelps-Roper said. “But really what it is, is the preaching moment. We do it so we can warn this generation, so we can fulfill the royal law in James 2:8 and that is to love your neighbor as yourself.”

The counter protest open not only to members of the homosexual community, but to all those who support the cause.

“Even though I’m not gay, I have gay friends and I think everybody should coexist,” said Kris Benitez, freshman math major. “I see no reason why I should have to push my beliefs on other people or why other people should push their beliefs on me.”

Police guarded the roads that led to parking areas and made sure that neither side group of protestors stepped off of the pavement, the only place they were allowed to protest.

“Loving your neighbor is to not suffer this sin upon them,” Phelps-Roper said. “You warn them that their sin is taking them to hell, and then it says that if you don’t do that, you hate your neighbor in your heart. You’re not supposed to do that, you’re not supposed to be hating on your neighbor. So that’s why we do it. We do it because it’s our duty.”

But many of those dissenting against the WBC do not consider the actions of WBC to be beneficial ones.

“I hope that Emporia, at least Emporia, is more accepting of everyone,” Benitez said. “I think (Phelps is) really ignorant, just like any other kind of racist, sexist bastard.”

WBC members said they do not consider themselves hateful or racist, only that they are trying to save those they feel are in danger of going to hell.

“You’d think that they wouldn’t oppose us, wouldn’t you?” Phelps-Roper said. “I mean, if they were blind and they were heading towards a cliff, and we lifted up a really loud voice and said, ‘don’t go over the cliff, hello,” do you think they would really be hating on us like they do now?”

Members of the WBC left earlier than they had anticipated, saying that it was too cold to stay.

“I hope to send Fred away which, clearly, we did,” said Brittani LeMay, sophomore elementary education major and member of P.R.I.D.E. “They weren’t here for very long and we had a lot of support from the high school and a lot of people from the university came out and gave support.”

Alex Pedersen/The Bulletin

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