News From Kansas: 400+ show for Million Fag March on Sunday

We are finally getting news stories, blog reports, and video out of Kansas regarding the Million Fag March that was held yesterday at Gage Park in Topeka, Kansas as a "queer benefit" for Rev. Fred Phelps and his melancholy crew of followers and family members.


Here are some of the articles just now hitting the news services and wires:

Marching against Phelps
Group gathers to protest church's controversial messages

By Taylor Atkins
The Capital-Journal
Monday, March 31, 2008

It was a love fest Sunday morning at the corner of S.W. 10th and Gage. The Million Fag March, started by Chris Love, of Leavenworth, drew more than 400 demonstrators with signs, shirts, even pants touting messages of compassion and tolerance. Homosexual, heterosexual and transgender pickets lined the corner of Gage Park. They hugged, danced and cheered as passersby honked their support.

"It's about time we did something like this again," said Hope Prescott, of Topeka, who waved a rainbow banner. "We feel somewhat responsible for the Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church. It's about time we show our support for gays rights and all rights."

Love said the idea for the march came after Westboro members picketed actor Heath Ledger's stateside memorial service, but the theme for Sunday's event encompassed more than funeral picketing. "It's not just about the Heath Ledger thing," Love said. "We're against everything that church does. The theory has been to ignore them, and they'll go away. It's been 20 years, and they're still here. Now we are too."

Picketers began lining up as early as 10 a.m., making signs on the side of the road. By 11 a.m. the crowd had overtaken the southeast corner of Gage Park waiting for the march to begin.

"I think it's good that all these people are here to march," said Ashley Lankard, a 12-year-old Landon Middle School student, who came with friends and family. "The Phelps always come to my school to picket. If they can say whatever they want, then we should be able to say what we want, too." With a magic marker, Lankard wrote her chosen words — "God loves everybody" — on a neon poster. At noon, she held it above her head as the crowd began to march.

Traffic slowed to watch the parade travel north on S.W. Gage then circle back through Gage Park. The Topeka police mobile command unit and several officers were on scene to ensure the event remained peaceful. Love wasn't worried about violence.

"I invited Westboro to come out and join us, but they didn't come," he said. "I don't think what we're doing is going to change them. It's just time to show people that not everyone in Kansas is like the Phelps'."

Hundreds protest peacefully against Westboro Baptist Church

Story by Marshanna Hester
KTKA ABC Channel 49
7:06 p.m. Sunday, March 30, 2008

They came with signs of love, respect and tolerance in all different races, sexual orientations and age groups, to show members of the Westboro Baptist Church that they too have first amendment rights.

“Standing up is the right thing to do,” said JD Stottlemire, march participant. “I think it's exciting it's the million fag march today, not because it has anything to do with homosexuality but because it dis-empowers the Phelps.”

“I think it’s cool and awesome,” said Elliot Nold, march participant.

Chris Love is the organizer of the march, but you didn't have to be homosexual to participate. So what's behind the name? Love said it has to do with the church's use of the word. “Generally it seems to be the case with them that anybody who's not apart of their church gets called a fag, so in that situation everybody here is a fag,” Love said.

Nold, 12, stood among the hundreds holding her sign "Love It or Leave it." She said she's grown up seeing the church's message. “[It] makes me feel sad because they think that that's the truth but it's not because God loves everybody no matter how they act,” she said.

The Phelps have been around for 17 years and have done more than 34,000 pickets. They were invited to the march to express their views but didn't show up. “They said that they didn't feel they could be kept safe,” Love said. With police protection on the ground and in the air participants peacefully walked the streets of Topeka.

And though the demonstrators know they won't change the minds of the Westboro members, Love had this to say. “You can at least have your voice heard,” he said. Topeka police say there were no problems with the march.

Because of the large turnout, organizers are planning to make the protest an annual event.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:] As more stories come in we will link to them below. THERE WILL BE A SEPARATE POST IF EITHER REV. PHELPS (OR OTHERS) PUTS OUT A RESPONSE OR IF CHRIS LOVE SENDS OUT A LETTER REGARDING THIS EVENT. Per the response to our previous post, feel free to comment below.

Message Update on the Million Fag March 30th of March 2008

First, the bad news...

I finally heard from the city of Topeka regarding what we can and can't do. And there are two pretty major "can'ts" that are going to affect us. But before you decide all is lost, please read all the way through and see what we've come up with.

The first "can't" involves "picketing a private residence." The WBC is considered a private church, and therefore falls under the same rules as a private home. In short: we can't picket directly outside the Westboro Baptist Church.

Trust me. I hear your thoughts, and I understand completely.

The second "can't" (which doesn't really matter so much after the first) is that the city attorney's office feels this many people in the street constitutes a parade. Had they informed me of this earlier, I could have attempted to get the proper permits. And in fact, I was told on one occasion that we would NOT be needing any permits.

The officer I spoke with, however, thought the city might deny our permit anyway, based on the streets we'd have to block. We won't even discuss what this would have done to the cost of our little grass roots event. (On the plus side, we're freed from any prior time contraints.)

Not surprisingly, there aren't any sidewalks in that area, which might have given us some leeway. So, yeah. Those thoughts you're still having? I had them, too. But read on...

What do we do then?

Well, if we can't focus our attention on the WBC specifically, we'll just have to let the entire city of Topeka know why we're there. A great way to do that is to line ourselves up along a major street where we can't be ignored. And there happens to be one not so far from the WBC. While we're at it, why not take over one of the nicest parks in town as our base of operations?

Next, we let the Phelps know where we'll be. Some have commented that the WBC probably wouldn't know we existed if we weren't outside during their service. Let me assure you: They know we're coming. But just so we're positive, I'll personally send them an invitation letting them know where we'll be and when (don't worry, I'm getting to that). I'll even ask them to come speak with us. I notice a certain date is conspicuously absent from their picket schedule, so I'd bet they're free that day.

In other words, the only way we won't see them is if they decide they don't want to be seen.

So, where will we be? Ah, now for the details.

• - On March 30th, 2008 at 11:00 AM, everyone should gather at Gage Park, located at the corner of 10th St and Gage Blvd in Topeka. There should be plenty of parking right across 10th Street.
• - At that time, we will hold a pre-March rally hosted by Jack E. Jett, featuring the music of Oreaganomics, Bill Boll, and perhaps a few others.
• - At the conclusion of our rally, the March begins! We'll line up down Gage Blvd (be sure to keep things legal and stay on the sidewalk!) Bring your signs, shirts, and any other Marching gear you see fit!
• - We'll be free to make ourselves known well into the evening, with a police force to keep everyone safe.
• - And yes, I really am going to invite the Phelps.

One other thing to brighten your day: you will undoubtedly want to see the church. Luckily, we will only be a couple of blocks away. And while this won't be officially MFM-sanctioned... well, I'll just tell you what the Topeka police officer told me. "They are still public streets." Just watch out for two things: Don't block street traffic, and don't take any "hate" signs directed at the Phelps clan past the church (this can be construed as "picketing" them. But you shouldn't have those anyway, because you're better than that). Signs that do not contain a hateful message will probably be fine.

So... that's it! Please send any feedback my way -- good or bad -- and I'll respond as soon as I can.
See you all in a couple of weeks, and you'll be hearing more from me between now and then. With your support, this year's "can'ts" will become small hurdles for next year's 2nd Annual MFM.

- Chris Love

Million Fag March @ Westboro Baptist Links

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