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Covering a Westboro Church protest

— In the end, democracy came out the winner.

While most people were appalled that members of the Westboro Baptist Church had come to Moore to raise hell there was actually some good that has spawned by the visit from the country’s most well known hate mongers.

Freedom and democracy live.

Yeah, it may not look like it a first glance, but there, on opposing street corners in Moore were two textbook examples of the freedom of speech and American democracy.

On one side, stood the folks from Westboro. Armed with signs that said everything from “You will eat your children” to “God Hates America” the Kansans came to Moore to spread their twisted, bizarre message of hate and divine retribution.

Church spokesman Shirley Phelps-Roper said the church chose Moore High School because it represented all the schools in the country and that the teachers there, and I’m assuming in the rest of the U.S., were telling students that God was a liar.

To help make their point, the church, earlier, sent out a release calling the students at Moore sluts, whores and other names not normally used in polite conversation. All this was underscored by church members, who also defaced an American flag — standing on it like a doormat.

Across the street stood the residents.

There, they carried messages such as “God Loves Moore,” “Hatred Sucks” and my personal favorite, a long, well-written spoof on a Visa card advertisement.

The group also sang religious song and, in a well-behaved but obvious crowd-like fashion, encouraged the Westboro group to go home. Veterans on motorcycles cruised up and down Eastern Avenue, reminding those from Westboro that they, too, had something to say.

A huge contingent of police — more than 52 of the department’s 80 men — were on hand, standing quietly in the street.
There was no violence.

There was no death or destruction.

Just freedom of speech raw and unvarnished.

When word of the church’s protest first broke, many of Moore city and school leaders were justifiably worried. Plans were made and students were released early.

Additionally, many of those same leaders urged this newspaper not to cover the incident or pay any attention to the Westboro group.

And while I understand their fear, there was no way the newspaper could ignore the incident. Not only were media outlets from across the metro there, but the event was taking place in Moore.

Municipal, civil and school officials were involved, taxpayer funds were being expended and there was a concern for the lives and safety of Moore residents.

Of course we had to cover the story; its part of the history of the town and The American is tasked with recording that history.
In the end, nothing bad happened.

The police kept order, the Westboro group got the chance to prove to the rest of the world what idiots they are and the residents of Moore (and everywhere from Warr Acres to Guthrie) had the chance to come together, stand on a street corner and speak their minds.

It was democracy at its best.

And I’m proud of what I saw. I’m proud of how city and school leaders took their jobs seriously and protected the students of Moore High.

I’m proud of the students for banding together and making their voices heard.

I’m proud of the bikers, the veterans and those who came from across the metro to stand with us, as brothers.

And, yes, I’m proud we covered the story.

Because had the media not played witness to this event, there would have been no way to tell the public just how incredible the citizens of Moore can be when they feel threatened.

And there would have been no one there to show the world what raw, visceral hatred looks like first-hand.

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