Westboro Bus Tires Flattened in Okla.
McALESTER, Okla. -- Kansas church members who travel the region to protest at military funerals have been given less than a rousing welcome at McAlester, Okla.
The Tulsa World reports that a half-dozen protesters from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., showed up Saturday in McAlester at the funeral of Army Sgt. Jason James McCluskey. After coping with what police said was more than a thousand counterprotesters, the church members found their minivan had flat tires on both the front and rear wheels on the passenger side.
Police said the tires had been slashed.
Officers said the church members were unable to find anyone to fix the flats in McAlester, and had to call a flatbed service truck to transport the van to a Walmart several miles away.
It's a movement.
WASHINGTON - Area protesters Monday aimed to drown out demonstrations in Maryland and Virginia by a Kansas church known for its anti-gay speech at military funerals.And it's spreading. In Omaha, the Phelps-bots tried to target the funeral of a high school teacher who had been struck by a car.Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. were drowned out by counter-demonstrators shouting and honking horns during the church's planned protest at Woodbridge High School in Virginia.
"I didn't want to have hatred without it being countered," one counter-protester tells WTOP.
The counter protesters set up outside St. Anthony Methodist Church near 150th Street and West Maple Road and said they planned to stay until the funeral come to an end. They said they brought sheets and planned to shield Klinger's family from seeing the Westboro group.Rock on!
Police said the Westboro protesters came but set up at a gas station 300 feet away, so many of the counter protesters didn't know they had arrived. The Westboro protesters left quickly, police said, and no incidents were reported.
Thousands showed up to pay their last respects to Marine Staff Sergeant Jordan Emrick in Hoyleton Saturday. However, some unwelcome visitors from the Westboro Baptist Church were a no show.
An estimated 850 filled the Trinity Lutheran Church while more watched the service from the gym next door. About 250 Patriot Guard, Leatherneck and American Legion motorcycle riders were in attendance. Others lined the streets holding flags and signs remembering Emrick and countering the expected protestors from the Westboro Baptist Church.
That's a very moving tribute, BTW, to a fallen hero, killed while trying to dismantle an IED in Afghanistan. Here's another one.
