Kansas Protestors Bring Anti-Gay Marriage to Area; Signs Offended Even their Local Supporters

WABC-TV New York ^ | April 5, 2004 | Michelle Charlesworth

[GiveEmDubya]

(Nyack -WABC, April 5, 2004) — An anti-gay protest group returned to Nyack this morning. The small organization from out of state went to Nyack and New Paltz protesting the push for legalized gay marriage in New York. Police and local supporters of gay rights were there as well. Michelle Charleworth reports.

The group that protested in the two towns today came here from a Baptist church in Kansas. Half of them were children. They came here to protest against gay marriage. They were joined by five people from here, who said later that they were ashamed.

Police didn't allow our cameras across the street during the protest, in an effort to, quote, "keep the peace." On one side, a group for gay marriage. On the other side, a group that was not.

Standing on American flags, most came from Kansas to be here. They're members of a Baptist church that is travelling around the country.

They were joined by five Nyack protestors from a local church, who said later they were shocked by the anti-American signs and chose to keep their distance.

Protestor: "Our signs said, "God hates f**s" and "God Hates America," and "Thank God for September 11th," and "God Blew Up the Shuttle." Michelle Charlesworth, Eyewitness News: "Does it surprise you that non one from here has joined your protest?"

Protestor: "Well, first of all they did, frankly, they did- four people. But no, it doesn't surprise me at all, because this is an adulterous and sinful nation and God has given it over to this kind of a perverted way of life."

And with that she was off to the airport. The rest of the protestors went inside village hall to warm up and enjoy free coffee and muffins.

A lot of high school and middle school students were here in support of gay marriage.

Student: "They chose the wrong town to protest. This is Nyack, for lack of a better word a very flamboyant town."

It's spring break, and students are out of school but said today was quite an education.

[GiveEmDubya]

Perhaps someone can post the pictures from the linked website.

I oppose gay marriage, but something tells me this group takes it a wee bit far...

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[Buell_X1-1200]

These goofballs are from my area, and we see them and their picket signs all the time. They are part of a fanatical group that is lead by so-called "Baptist Preacher" Fred Phelps.

Most of their signs are very graphic and embarassing ... wonder what locals do when they drive by and have kids in the car. My younger brother teased them when he was in highschool. They had his name and number ... they protested his funeral ... sad, very sad.

[dd5339]

This could only be the rev. fred.... sigh... He give's Christians a bad name.

Semper Fi

[GiveEmDubya]

They really don't seem like a fun bunch at all. They revel in people's deaths, they the spread of diseases like AIDS, and they hate those who don't share their views. Sorry, couldn't find those verses in the Bible.

[GiveEmDubya]

they praise the spread of diseases like AIDS

[TheBigB]

Is this that Phelps moron?

[Ignatius J Reilly]

"Standing on American Flags"? does that mean what I think it does? "Thank God for 9/11" These people are complete whack jobs. They wouldn't last 2 seconds from where I came from without being severely beaten

[jtminton]

Are they the "godhatesfags.com" group?

[dasboot]

Are you sure? Have any been identified?

Sounds to me like a protest staged by pro-gay activists to make news and declaw their opposition. Until at least one member is identified, I remain skeptical.

[Bogey78O]

Probably is that former Gore supporter.

[Bogey78O]

Well GodhatesAmerica.com is a Phelps site.

[GiveEmDubya]

I think it's his group, yes.

[wingnutx]

This is Fred Phelps and his congregation, and he is very sincere. That's the nicest thing I can say about him.

He's a vicious whacko, would be more accurate.

[TC Rider]

Wasn't Gore associated with these people way back when?

[dasboot]

How do you know? What the reporter said? The press will report anything without checking. For All I know, these protesters are from Berkely CA....like a political theatrical troupe for rent by activists.

I question the connection to Phelps, or anybody. Could be dirty tricks...smoke and mirrors....very effective.

[TroutStalker]

There's no doubt in my mind that this is Fred Phelps' group; it is their typical modus operandi.

They picket homosexual funerals among other places. They were at the VFW convention in '99 when we were protesting clinton with their signs reading VFW Fags as well as their other usual ones such as God Hates Fags.

The group is mostly Phelps extended family, with a bunch of sons who are lawyers. As another poster noted, he is a democRAT and supporter of algore.

[dasboot]

If that's true, then his congragation is likely maintained by libs for the purpose to which it was put in NY. I was down the long path to recruitment in the CPUSA...I got better...and I recall these kinds of ploys being used locally.

[muawiyah]

He may be vicious, but at least he's not like those horrid AIDS carriers who spread disease and death among innocent homosexuals just minding their business.

[GiveEmDubya]

If these were saboteurs from Berkeley, they seemed to have done a pretty good job of replicating the real protestors. Unless you are suggesting that Phelps and his people have been nothing but leftist infiltrators all along with a desire to give Christianity a bad name, in which case, I would not be surprised at all. One thing is for sure, these are someone's people, and this type of protest is certainly part of their M.O.