Repost: Alert - Protest of a lesbian service member's funeral

[elaby]

Reposting from tumblr:

Westboro Baptist Church will be protesting SGT Donna Johnson’s funeral at 10:15am Saturday Oct 13th at the Raeford Presbyterian Church, 128 Edinborogh Ave Raeford NC 28376. If you live close, please go & help the volunteers stand in line between WBC & the family. If you don’t, please repost so others will know about it. SGT Johnson was killed in Khost, Afghanistan on Oct 1st by a suicide bomber. She has served our nation for 6 yrs. This was her 3rd deployment. She leaves behind her wife, Tracy.

I wish I lived close enough to go. My greatest fear is losing my wife, and to think that this sergeant's wife and family would have to endure protests along with that pain is beyond horrific.

Comments

[astillac.livejournal.com]

What the fuck. I wish I could stop these assholes. I just want to shake them and actually make them see what utter asshats they're being.

*hugs the both of you* <333

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Me too. We both live so far away from it, though! *hugs too* I can't imagine how twisted they must be to think this sort of thing is okay.

[sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com]

I cannot imagine anything less Christ-like than what that church does to people. I, too, wish I was nearby and could stand in the phalanx protecting the family. So, so, so awful.;-;

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I absolutely agree. I'm no expert on Christianity, but this seems like exactly the opposite.

[rubymulligan.livejournal.com]

My parents are part of a motorcycle group that is going to stand guard in front of the services so the WBC people can't do anything or get too close. I'd like to go, but we have to babysit my mom's epileptic dog for them so they can go with their group. Those people really make me sick to my stomach. There is NOTHING less Christian. ;-;

Hopefully nothing bad will happen and my parents will come back with an uneventful report of a quiet, respectful service. At least I pray that's what will happen.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Your parents are wonderful! Tell them thank you for me. I'm so glad they're able to go - especially with a motorcycle group, which would present a very strong barrier, I'd think. *hugs* I hope nothing happens too.

[rubymulligan.livejournal.com]

My parents just got back. With tears in her eyes, my mom said that it was the most beautiful service she's ever seen. She said that the town of Raeford, as they were required to do, issued a permit to the WBC to protest. However, and here's the happy part of the story, it was only good for one hour and that hour was strictly from 8-9 this morning. The funeral didn't start until 10:15 am. So, yay! They didn't get to disturb the funeral at all. My mom said that over 1,000 bikes were there and probably 4,000 people. It was so crowded and so love-filled. My parents were very moved and I was moved to hear it from them first hand. ;-;

Oh, and their group is called the Patriot Guard.

[rubymulligan.livejournal.com]

Here are a few photos from the day. My mom's memory is horrible so she takes her camera with her everywhere she goes, every single day. I'll leave them as links just in case someone doesn't want to look at them:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/560371_510481418964351_1904458463_n_zps5d05118a.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/318993_510481455631014_1622784722_n_zps83f32e46.jpg
Both pictures are of the massive line of motorcycles from the Patriot Guard.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/552329_510481175631042_283727051_n_zps5e4f9a98.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/545298_510480892297737_406022705_n_zps1f20d26a.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/479906_510481105631049_1076538315_n_zps04f57583.jpg
People with lots and lots and lots of American flags.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/285616_510479852297841_281230572_n_zps339aa517.jpg
My mom with the flags.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/8169_510481938964299_221167444_n_zps3eb2c567.jpg
Donna's hearse was actually pulled by a motorcycle.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/mathrockgirl/375823_510482228964270_1801068389_n_zps0b4720e6.jpg
Her flag-draped casket and pall bearers.

;-;

[elaby.livejournal.com]

That RULES. I'm so glad the town was clever about that. Thank goodness.

Your parents and their group are ten million kinds of awesome. <3

[caitirin.livejournal.com]

SERIOUSLY!!! :)

[raechel]

DAMN. I wish I'd known about this a bit more in advance. I could have made arrangements :( I hope they fail to show.

[raechel]

I posted this to my facebook. I have a few IRL friends in that area so hopefully the word gets out in time.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *hugs*

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I only just heard about it too. Spreading the word is extremely helpful <3

[kcscribbler]

As a Christian, I am absolutely appalled that this is even happening in my country. I'm so sorry for this unconscionable act of idiocy.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I know that Christians like you would never do or condone anything like this. *hugs* Thank you.

[caitirin.livejournal.com]

Also, I ATENT GOING ANYWHERE *HUGS YOU*

[elaby.livejournal.com]

*SQUISHHUGS*