infuriating...

[nikki_murder]

Okay, so I'm putting this up here because I know a few of the people that might see this are Rutgers alumni or at least personally offended by what is going on here

Comments

[purpletentacle]

Keep in mind that the Westboro Baptist Church do these protests not to spread a message but for income.

They make the loudest most disturbing racket to try and get a rise out of the locals to make them act against them. If this happens, Westboro (a family of lawyers) brings up legal action for infringement on their freedom of speech. They are very careful to set up proper permissions to protest where ever they go so they have a solid legal foothold in court.

If you create a counter protest, make sure no one directly interferes or messes with them. It will put money in their pockets.

I'm trying to remember which college campus created a 'gay day' in counter protest when Westboro showed up at their doorstep. I think this was year back. One thing I remember about it was that a large percentage of male students dressed in drag and had cook-outs in the front yard of their fraternity houses for all to see. There was live music. They basically countered it with a feel good party based on acceptance. Which I kinda liked the idea of.

[nikki_murder]

Yes, that's what we were told exactly. They pretty much infuriate people until someone gets aggravated enough to throw a rock at them, then they sue and get a lot of money which only enables them to travel to more places. Right now a lot of people are talking about using music as a tool for counter-protest. Pretty much singing songs, hymns, and parodies to piss them off. Playing music from artists whom are openly gay, Jewish or Catholic would only piss them off and over-power whatever they have to say so right now people are sort of putting that together. But yeah we were given strict orders to be sure not to use any verbal or physical assaults because that's what they thrive on.

[grumpymonkey]

Watch the legal angle. They do file lawsuits when they feel the organization they are protesting doesn't protect their right to free speech. File for the same permits they do. Organize on corners where they aren't gathered. Let them have their say, but fill the surrounding areas with more interesting protests that will attract viewers' attention away from what they are doing. If possible do NOT involve U Hillel or Rutgers... those are the deep pockets they hope to pick from

[nikki_murder]

Forming a line: Students and friends of the Hillel can gather on the Hillel property, they rent the space from the university so as long as they don't breach the fire codes we can gather there and do whatever we want. So that's where any line of chicks would be formed, on their own property. The WBC has a designated space on the sidewalk that they are allowed to utilize, and the new brunswick and RUPD will be making sure that no one over steps their bounds. We can't block the street, but the area in front of the student center just about 200ft away is totally up for grabs and is often utilized as a place for large gatherings of the sort so I believe that's where the counter-protest will congregate. We can get permits to play music from speakers or cars that are parked in that area too.

[purpletentacle]

That's what running through my mind. You can't reason with these assclowns. Protesting with signs and shouting right across from them isn't going to really help the situation or the mood for passer-bys around the Hillel. It gives Westboro more attention for them to shine.

Direct traffic away from them to fun entertaining parties/gatherings that spearheads what they hate.

[promethius]

So, I'm speaking from a million years ago, but... When I was at RU, they specifically said that protest groups could NOT speak anywhere they wanted on campus. They could always organize, but they had to do so at specific locations to ensure the safety of the group and of passers-by. I don't know if this still holds true, but it might be worth asking the administration about.

I will say that I find this deplorable. But, free speech and all that. I stand by it. The good side to this is that I find, in my experience, that groups like this tend only to make themselves look more like hatemongers and idiots by being public about their views, rather than lurking in the sewers where they belong...

I'm exhausted and didn't get a chance to read thoroughly, but I'm interested in the issue. I'll have to talk to you about this later.

[nikki_murder]

Thanks guys. Yeah that's the issue about the 'where' they should be able to do this. College Ave as you know is a main road straight through the campus and there's a lot of traffic going up and down the block it would literally block people from getting to class on time -as if the traffic isnt bad already. "And not for nothing", other groups have come to protest various things at RU... religious, pro-life, even vegetarian extremists (They gave you pictures of headless animals before you ate a burger in the student center... really.) but those were all in open student centers or quad areas that could hold a lot of people. And mostly with those guys, no one cared and they walked by...it got annoying after a while, because I just didn't want to see the more graphic stuff on the way to class, you know, the people with dead fetuses and stuff... BUT I do like the Bible thumpers who hand out their little version of the Bible...they don't talk to you, they just give you a little book and move on. I have a whole collection of them