Stories
Hate Override Complete
By Gail Powell | Published Thursday, July 22, 2010
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The Westboro Baptist Church’s planned protest at Comic-Con on July 22 was overridden by a rally against hate and intolerance. (For a background story on the church’s plans, click here.)
At noon in front of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, a small Westboro group had set up “hate” signs on a corner to protest the presence of Al Gore, who is in town for a hospital-association meeting. Because Gore reportedly had switched hotels and wasn't there, the Westboro "Al Gore is a whore" protest fizzled fast.
The Westboro bunch was soon on the move with their own police escort: they went up the street and regrouped across from the convention center’s Comic-Con entrance. Counter-protestors were not far behind, and soon the few of us who had started down at the Hyatt had rallied a substantial group against racism and intolerance. People grabbed at cardboard boxes and took out Sharpies to fashion their own crude-but-effective signs.
Soon, we counter-protestors were shouting to drown out the Westboro hate-mongers. I found a man in a white robe that seemed to be dressed as God. I asked him if he would like to accompany me across the street because I held a large sign that read "God loves everybody." He agreed, and we made a winning team along the street curb of West Harbor Drive.
Soon, out-signed and out-shouted, the Topeka Baptists gathered their signs and American flags and went away quietly.
This gentleman is not ...
Totally awesome. Makes me proud to be a nerd!
By Trakball 9:49 a.m., Jul 23, 2010 > Report it
There was someone nearby conveniently dressed as God? How fortunate. And pretty much a guarantee that you won't get a jaywalking ticket crossing the boulevard.
By refriedgringo 9:50 a.m., Jul 23, 2010 > Report it
Actually it was someone dressed up as Dogma's "Buddy Christ", but hey, close enough!
By Trakball 10 a.m., Jul 23, 2010 > Report it
Wow, Jesus, that's a bonus! If it was God, then you know, the only thing you have to go on so far as positive I.D. is the monogram on the white robe. With Jesus, there's instant recognition.
By refriedgringo 10:06 a.m., Jul 23, 2010 > Report it
Awesome, these nut bags need to be counter-protested everywhere they go. Superheroes 1, Cult 0
By jmtrudeau 5:01 p.m., Jul 23, 2010 > Report it
hooray!!!!
By nan 8:25 p.m., Jul 23, 2010 > Report it
i'm so friggin proud of SandyEggo on this one...yippee!!!
By nan 8:27 p.m., Jul 23, 2010 > Report it
This story went national. Saw it on Salon.com. God loves San Diego!!
By MsGrant 8:48 a.m., Jul 24, 2010 > Report it