Westboro Baptist Church blocked from preaching hate at trans clinic by ‘wall of love’
The Westboro Baptist Church has been blocked from preaching hate in Philadelphia after a ‘wall of love’ was formed.
Four members of the church, known for its ‘God hates fags’ slogan, and for picketing the funerals of US Military service people, had attempted to picket in Philadelphia.
Amazing community support for @MazzoniCenter today. We fought hate, and won. #TransEquality pic.twitter.com/4LNHVtLalK
— Great Wall of Love (@GreatWallofLove) July 26, 2016
But before they could, the LGBT+ community and their allies came out against the church.
The church had planned to protest against a trans clinic at the Mazzoni Center in the city.
Organiser Lynn Alvarez told CBS Philly that they rallied their friends, filling an entire block with the ‘wall of love’.
She said: “We found out that the Westboro Baptist Church was coming here to protest against Mazzoni Center’s transgender clinic.”
She added: “We’re a community! As many people that have tried to stop us, they’re not stopping us.”
And after the four protesters from Westboro cleared off, Alvarez said the street turned to celebration.
Another supporter said: “I’m just super proud of my city in this moment,” speaking on KYW Newsradio.
Westboro Baptist Church protesters have been met with a #greatwalloflove outside the @MazzoniCenter in Philly pic.twitter.com/TU6ijQtNCX
— Ashley Alman (@ashleyalman) July 26, 2016
This is not the first time the church, known for its hatred of acceptance, has been blocked by love.
A human chain of love was formed to block Westboro members from picketing the funerals of those lost in a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
49 people were killed and 53 injured in the shocking terrorist hate crime attack over the weekend,which saw a gunman open fire inside The Pulse gay bar in Orlando, Florida.
