Westboro Baptist Church to "protest" Savannah, Completely unprepared to deal with Me

[Savannah D]

So WBC is coming to My beautiful city to say horrible things, and try to incite a riot to fund their agenda... I'm on the board of ten tasked with planning the "anti-protest" making sure this doesn't become a shitstorm of epic proportions.... Usually I believe that everyone has a right to be an asshole, but I'll be DAMNED if they get one fucking cent of My tax dollars in a lawsuit...

Has anyone here dealt with them? If so, what worked? What didn't? Does anyone have any information OTHeR then what I already know (they're douchebags and they make money off pushing people into violating their "civil rights"... anything at all would be appreciated contact Me here or on My Facebook page.

And also.... and it KILLS Me to even ask, but...

We need almost $3K for off duty police security, so any donations would be out-fucking-standing...

Sorry this is so short, internets off so I'm tapping this out on My Droid.

[WinJStar]

I have nothing to contribute other than a, "good luck". I wouldn't wanna mess with you!!!

[Savannah D]

So far the plan is to "kill em with kindness" while distracting the angry mob to defuse the situation... we ALSO (unfortunately) have to make sure said mob doesn't touch them in ANY WAY or they sue EVERYONE.

We have great support from the Christian community and the LGBT community (politics DOES make strange bedfellows... never seen a priest and a drag queen agree before... it was kinda nice...) and of course I've got My little motley group of deviants (that's where the distracting comes in) and we've got loads ofs guidfor peaceful protest and folks with crowd control experience, but I want to know EVERYTHING I can about this to be even better prepared.

[Savannah D]

Fucked up part is, I got "tapped" because I decided to throw an anti-protest party and made a damn Facebook page for it.... (computers should REALLY come with breathalyzers...)

[Savannah D]

Meanwhile this is the PERFECT place for their plan to work... We're a military town, with a church on every corner, a huge LGBT population, and we're "all heavily armed and drunk" (to quote the book)...

I love My people, but we DO do some stupid shit sometimes...

[Nynus]

What are they protesting?

If it's a funeral then the "Angel Defense" seems to be effective. This is where you have volunteers wear white "wings" that are 8ft high by 10ft wide and create a wall around the mourners. Make sure the volunteers are trained in non-confrontation, and they are instructed to stay silent, and not to touch. If possible enclose the funeral entirely so that the "Angels" don't need to move.

If they have just applied for a permit to gather, and aren't protesting any event in particular, then one of the tactics you could use is boycott. The WBC would look fairly silly if they show up somewhere to protest and no one shows up. Get the press involved, urge the entire city to avoid where ever the protest and protesters are like the plague. Also inform the public that if they happen to encounter the protesters elsewhere, the best thing is to ignore them. Even to the point of treating them as invisible. Don't touch, don't yell, don't acknowledge, and don't even make eye contact.

This group of assholes feeds on controversy and conflict. Take it away completely, and their protest is worthless. Without a conflict, there's no news, and if they don't make the news, they don't get their fucked up point of view out there.

Good luck!

[billynomates]

^^^^ Took the words out of my mouth (well mine wouldn't have been so eloquent). They feed on anger and protest so you starve them of their 'lifeline'. Instead of having an anti-protest party. I agree with Paul-you don't want to afford them any feelings that they're 'getting' to your community, why not get the Churches to host 'celebration' Church gatherings. i.e. parties, use the opportunity to get the community together. The Church gatherings can be held in Churches and pubs-God isn't confined to a building...or a book.

Good luck

[Savannah D]

They're hitting Christian churches on Sunday the 22 and then schools and Jewish temples Friday the 27. I'd love the just ignore them, and will use that in our press releases, but there are just too many tourists this time of year together the work to everyone. (Also, airtime costs money) and they're in historic downtown Savannah on a weekend, during out peak tourist season... no one will go for an area boycott..

[Savannah D]

It'd be like suggesting people avoid the Statue of Liberty in July... just won't work.

[Savannah D]

Hence the idea of distraction... it's pretty hard to be violent while you're laughing... (as proof, I survived high school)