Hundreds counterprotest

By SUZAN CLARKE
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: April 5, 2004)

SOUTH NYACK — Hundreds carried placards and joined in song last night to express their displeasure with the nine members of a controversial Christian church from Kansas who vocally declared that God hates gays.

Counterprotesters had signs that read, "Nyack Thrives on Positive Energy," "Hate Kills" and "Click your heels 3 times, 'cause there is no place like home. Go back to Kansas." About 500 people stood behind barriers to await the arrival of the contingent from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., who had announced their plans to protest outside St. Paul's United Methodist Church last night and in front of Nyack Village Hall this morning.

St. Paul's holds services for lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgendered people at 6 p.m. each Sunday.

The Westboro Baptist Church, headed by the Rev. Fred Phelps, has condemned gays and their attempts to marry. Earlier yesterday, the group protested in New Paltz. A flier circulated by the church refers to the governments of New Paltz and Nyack as Sodom and Gomorrah, which the Bible said God destroyed because of their corruption and immorality.

When the protesters arrived and took their places behind barricades, the counterprotesters broke into a spirited rendition of "Going to the Chapel," following it up with songs including "We Shall Overcome."

In response to one line of that song, "We shall overcome someday," the Westboro church members — three of whom were Phelps' daughters — replied also in song and to the same music, "You are going to Hell someday."

Holding signs that said "God Hates America," "AIDS is God's Curse," "Thank God for Sept. 11," and others that contained derogatory names for lesbians and gays, the protesters said they were merely spreading God's message.

Westboro church member Katherine Hockenbarger, 22, said the attitude of the counterprotesters proved her group's point.

"What goes through my mind is that we're absolutely, 100 percent right," she said, adding: "As they hated Jesus, they'll hate us."

Kathy Perrote of Grand View said she was sickened by the Kansas church's message.

"I'm absolutely astounded that in this day and age there are people like this on this Earth," she said. "It's unbelievable. It makes me sick to my stomach."

Jon Garbo, a South Nyack resident, said he could not fathom why the group would express gratitude for the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

"Their words are just devastating," Garbo said. "It's just devastating, and very, very sad."

Local officials, including South Nyack Deputy Mayor Tish DuBow, Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner and Nyack Mayor John Shields, also turned out to show their rejection of the group's rhetoric.

The Kansas group plans to picket Nyack Village Hall at 8:30 a.m. today in response to Shields' suing the state and the Orangetown town clerk for same-sex marriage rights. When Shields arrived last evening with his partner, Bob Streams, he was greeted with resounding applause and cheers.

Shields praised the community for turning out and for its support of equal rights for all.

Lance McGinnis of Nyack started a fund-raiser, collecting pledges from counterprotesters for every minute the Topeka church group spent protesting in the village. At the end of the protest, between on-the-spot donations and e-mail pledges, he had collected about $800, which he planned to donate to Lambda Legal Defense Fund, the national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, the transgendered and people with HIV or AIDS.

"I think it's fantastic that so many people have turned out to voice their opinion against this jerk," McGinnis said, referring to Phelps, who did not appear at the protest.

The exchanges between the protesters and counterprotesters grew heated at times, and Bible verses were quoted back and forth.

"Gay, straight, black, white, marriage is a civil right," the counterprotesters shouted.

Counterprotesters could also been seen urging members of their group to remain calm, while protesters shouted back at the crowd.

"And all these people succeed in doing is drawing more attention to us and making sure there's no excuse on Judgment Day," Hockenbarger said.

Her brother, Charles Hockenbarger, commented on the crowd's reaction.

"I think it is an amazing thing to me that nine people with a few colorful signs can generate this much response," he said.

Brandon Smith, a Hillcrest resident and a volunteer firefighter, was outraged at some of the placards Phelps' group displayed.

"Hey, little girl, I lost a friend Sept. 11, put that sign down," he said, directing his comment to a girl whose sign thanked God for the terror attacks.

"They've got a lot of nerve," Smith said, remarking that many of the police officers who were there to maintain order may also have lost loved ones in the attacks.

"They're lucky all those boys in blue" were "out here right now," he added.

The protesters yelled back at the crowd, trading insults.

Ben Korn, one of three Nyack High School students who organized the counterprotest, urged supporters to show up outside Nyack Village Hall at 8:15 a.m. today to be ready for the Westboro church members.

"I just think it's necessary that we all unite and stand up for equal rights for all people," Korn said.

Rachel Lapidus, 12, of Nyack said it was ironic that the Kansas group manifested such disdain for America, and yet was able to avail itself of First Amendment protection for its speech.

"I think the turnout ... was great and hopefully it'll be the same tomorrow," Lapidus said.