http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/536654.html?nav=515By CASEY JUNKINS Staff Writer
POSTED: April 11, 2010
WHEELING - Go home!
That was the message Wheeling residents and other counter-protesters gave members of Westboro Baptist Church during the group's Saturday "visits" to three Catholic churches and the Mount de Chantal Road/National Road intersection near Perkins Restaurant and Bakery.
The church, based in Topeka, Kan., and led by pastor Fred Phelps, is known as a hate group that targets gays, Catholics, Jews and military families. The group's Web site refers to the Catholic Church as "that Catholic monster" and "lying pervert Catholics."
The Westboro group, consisting of three adults and three children, arrived at St. Michael Parish on National Road with signs bearing phrases such as: "America is Doomed," "God Hates You," "God Hates Jews," and "God Hates West Virginia." Several other signs featured phrases laced with even more derogatory remarks.
Another sign read "Thank God for Dead Miners," apparently in reference to 29 coal miners who died as a result of the explosion at Massey Energy Co.'s Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W.Va., this week. One of the female protesters sang a rendition of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads", replacing the lyrics with her own language condemning the dead miners.
The Westboro group, however, encountered stiff opposition at St. Michael Parish, as about 100 feisty counter-protesters were more than eager to engage them. The Westboro group remained on the east side of Seibert Street, while their opponents gathered in front of the church. These counter-protesters were not directly associated with the church, as officials encouraged parishioners not to engage the Westboro group.
Dillonvale resident Darlene Hennebert came out to engage the Westboro group. However, plenty of Wheeling police officers made sure she and others stayed on the sidewalk, preventing them from approaching the Westboro people.
"I wish I could do more than stand here," Hennebert said, noting her son, Brett Davidson, is a member of the U.S. military currently deployed in Afghanistan. "I do feel sorry for them - their souls need saved."
U.S. Army Sgt. Bill Neal came all the way from Fort Bragg, N.C., to confront the protesters.
"It is sad that my fellow soldiers have died to allow them to do this. ... If America is so bad, they should just leave," he said.
Elm Grove resident Bill O'Leary just could not understand the Westboro folks.
"How can you raise little children to come up hating people? ... This is just a shame," he said.
From St. Michael Parish, the group traveled to St. Alphonsus Parish in Center Wheeling, with most of the counter-protesters following.
From there, it was on to the Cathedral of St. Joseph in East Wheeling, where even more opponents were waiting to hold some tense verbal exchanges with group members. At one point, all counter-protesters chanted, "Go home," to those from Westboro.
The Westboro group originally planned to complete their visit with a protest at Wheeling Jesuit University. However, university officials decided against allowing the protesters on school grounds, so the Westboro people went to the Mount de Chantal Road/National Road intersection near Perkins. All the while, the counter-protesters trailed the group from Kansas.
As drivers honked horns due to the groups of protesters lined up near Perkins, the counter-protesters continued shouting down the Westboro folks.
"This is disgusting. ... I came because I did not want them going unchallenged," said Wheeling native Nick Romano, who currently lives out of the area while in pursuit of academic studies. "We need to defend our turf."
During the final Westboro stop, one counter-protester attempted to approach the group. Wheeling Police Chief Robert Matheny did not allow this, though, noting city officials wanted to keep everyone away from the group.
"We provided them (Westboro) escorts. We wanted to make sure that their vehicle was not damaged," he said, adding that it was necessary for the city to provide security for the Westboro demonstrators.
"Everyone has cooperated with us," Matheny added, noting no arrests were made.
