Church protest planned, church group fails to appear

by Allison Eck '12
MANAGING EDITOR

A tempest of emotion surrounded last night’s anticipated demonstration by the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC). The church, based out of Topeka, Kan., is known for its anti-homosexuality and anti-Semitic protest activity; a recent press releases indicated that they planned to picket on the Hamilton campus in response to the 7 p.m. screening of the documentary, “The Anatomy of Hate.” Owens Community College in Toledo, OH and North Central College in Naperville, IL were also targeted as potential protest sites for the same reason.

In the past, “no one has protested against the screenings, although the Westboro Baptist Church has threatened to protest the screenings,” said Mike Ramsdell, producer, photographer and director of “The Anatomy of Hate.”

Although members of the WBC did not make an appearance yesterday, the administration took extra measures to ensure that if they did, the campus would remain safe and off-campus protesters would be confined to a roped-off area outside the Kirner-Johnson Building. Students were troubled by the prospect that the WBC might come to campus, but nonetheless felt the need to express their sentiments through counter-protest. “If we can be here to enlighten them even in the slightest bit, it’s worth it for me to suffer through all their horribleness,” said Grace Pezzeminti ’14.

Members of Rainbow Alliance encouraged students to join them on the third floor of the Sadove Student Center to make signs, and all those participating gathered near the protest site shortly before the WBC’s expected arrival at 6:15 p.m.

“I wanted to come out and protest because they associate themselves with God, but being religious myself, I want people to know that God’s not about hate and that hate should not be allowed to spread unchecked,” said Leah Krause ’14. “We need to stop it with love and signs of positivity.”

Because the WBC has a history of antagonizing those who witness their protests, students recognized that if they were to come, Hamilton would have to respond peacefully.

Similarly, Dean of Students Nancy Thompson noted that Hamilton has a policy on freedom of expression and maintenance of public order; however, she clarified that the focus of last night was the march. “I don’t want it to be about the Westboro Baptists because originally this was about the right of all of our community members to be who they are and to practice their beliefs,” she said. “That’s what I think this march is about. If the Westboro Baptist Church is here, we can also say to them that we do not support their cause at all. But we have to be peaceful about it.”

Others agreed that a civil response would be most appropriate. “Part of me didn’t know whether it was better to come here or just ignore them, because I didn’t want to give them the benefit of having the attention, but a stronger part of me just has such a visceral reaction to such disgusting hate,” said Maggie Whalen ’14.

Before the events took place, Alia Rehman, president of the Muslim Students Association (MSA), commented that the WBC’s threat to visit Hamilton “has drawn more attention to the film [“The Anatomy of Hate”] and there will perhaps be even more people who attend now.” Whether or not more people attended the film than would have otherwise is up for debate.

Some students said that what was extraordinary about the incident was that it united the Hamilton community. “In the past when there have been debates like this, everyone’s been very political and divided,” said Krause. “It’s really interesting to see watch everyone unite around one subject and be on the same side.”