As promised, Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe showed up bright and early this morning to stage a counter-protest, nay, counter-party to the fun-hating Westboro Baptist Church. The church came to protest the election of Danica Roem to state legislature. She is Virginia's (and the nation's) first out trans person to be elected and serve in a state legislature.
The Church had a problem with it and Randy had a problem with their problem, so he launched a call to arms and gathered a fine group of miscreants. Before the protest, Randy explained his motivation to StyleWeekly.com:
"Why bother throwing a kazoo counterparty when the loonies of the Westboro Baptist Church show up? Well, first and foremost, Danica is my friend. I don't like people who mess with my friends. Second, their 'message' sucks — they do have the right to preach it, but we also have the right to drown it out with kazoos. Third, it's too good of an opportunity to pass up. Who doesn't want to hear a few hundred people playing the 'Sanford & Son' theme on kazoos? Only a truly godless and un-American puppy-kicking troglodyte, that's who.
"Why let a perfectly good chance for some harmless and hilarious mischief pass by? Some people say: 'Just ignore them, you're only giving them more publicity to raise money with.' I disagree. From the Southern Poverty Law Center website: 'Fred Phelps and his small congregation provide WBC's funding; the group neither solicits nor accepts outside donations.' Phelps is dead and gone, but many members of this 'church' are lawyers, and they fund their activities from lawsuits — someone loses their cool and punches one of them, and then they sue the pants off of the aggressor. Or a city won't let them protest, and then they sue the city. This has substantially increased their coffers several times.
"So let them come with their signs and nonsense. As long as everyone remains cool, ignores these mental cripples, and plays ripping kazoo tunes, then all the Westboro Baptist will have accomplished is burning some of the funds in their travel bank account."
Based on pictures, counter-protesters outnumbered the actual Church by at least four to one odds.
In the first picture you’ll see the Westboro Baptist Church protestors, the second is all the counter protestors. @NBC12 pic.twitter.com/sw1BnE84lo
— Olivia Ugino (@OliviaNBC12) March 11, 2019
One person at the event reported that Randy's crew were such a nuisance that the ended their protest early. Hell yeah!
Here is some video from the event:
Lamb of God lead singer Randy Blythe leading counter-protesters to an appearance by Westboro Baptist Church at Capitol Square Richmond, Virginia. pic.twitter.com/7jAwqijFKi
— Chip Lauterbach (@ChipLauterbach) March 11, 2019
I somehow ended up up Randy Blythe’s protest against the Westboro Baptist Church ? pic.twitter.com/CNbhwBAs2P
— Doc Coyle (@DocCoyle) March 11, 2019
This is the counter protest to the six people here from Westboro Baptist Church, a group @splcenter calls “arguably the most obnoxious and rabid hate group in America.” pic.twitter.com/Q8Qv2FTSuc
— Mallory Noe-Payne (@MalloryNoePayne) March 11, 2019
@hEnereyG hopefully this is a good start to your day. Randy Blythe from lamb of god organized a counter party to the Westboro Baptist Church today in Va. this is the result. pic.twitter.com/kN5MAcdkHG
— Corgin Hammersmith (@Finn_Dingo) March 11, 2019
The noise level is nothing compared to real life. Westboro Baptist Church’s boombox can’t be heard over this kazoo party. @theCT pic.twitter.com/42kjsCdvBF
— Erin Edgerton ⛰ (@erineedgerton) March 11, 2019
Big shoutout to Randy Blythe of @lambofgod and all the supporters today who held a counter protest so big and loud the Westboro Baptist Church called it quits 10 minutes early. pic.twitter.com/tOIYeZBvii
— Ethan Damon (@ethan_damon) March 11, 2019
A “friendly” goodbye to the Westboro Baptist Church. pic.twitter.com/PHOg8Wzeax
— Olivia Ugino (@OliviaNBC12) March 11, 2019
[via Blabbermouth]
