‘Business as usual’ encouraged Sunday
Managing editor
“Ignore Westboro Baptist Church and they won’t come back” was the message sent by law enforcement Wednesday evening at a town hall meeting, drawing more than 200 people.
Protesters from Westboro Baptist Church are coming to Marion Sunday, and local law enforcement wants residents to go about their routines.
Key information included:
- There will be seven church members in Marion.
- Designated areas will be set up by law enforcement for the pickets to stand, primarily across the street from the targeted churches.
- Emmanuel Baptist Church has now been removed from the list, Whitwell said. Targeted churches are Holy Family Catholic Church, Marion Presbyterian Church, Valley United Methodist Church, and Eastmoor United Methodist Church.
“As long as the protesters are on public property, they are allowed to protest,” he said.
Public property typically includes sidewalks and the area between sidewalks and streets.
Whitwell advised those who want to counter-protest to remain on public property as well or obtain permission from property owners to be on private property.
“We’re asking the Marion community not to form a counter rally,” Craft said. “This is what they (WBC) are interested in. Allow them to come in and do their business.”
Local law enforcement will receive assistance from Hillsboro, the sheriff’s office, and Kansas Highway Patrol. Harvey County law enforcement will be on standby.
Laura Legg asked who was paying for the extra law enforcement. Taxpayers, Whitwell said.
In Concordia, police gave picketers a specific area to protest, they became bored, and left town, Doug Lind of Marion said, drawing a round of applause.
Residents were also advised that WBC members typically wear hidden microphones to tape record encounters as well as videotape the rallies.
Churches were advised to post “private property” or “no trespassing” signs on their locations.
Former school superintendent Gerry Henderson, who lived in Topeka before coming to Marion, said the church he attended saw its share of protests from the church group.
“Our response needs to be to ignore them,” he said.
Henderson’s church was able to stop the picketing when it set up surveillance cameras.
Kevin Hofer, commander of the Marion American Legion, said the organization would not participate in a counter-rally Sunday.
“We’re focused on making sure Ryan and his family have a good Christmas,” he said.