Phelps: Vandalism, explosive devices not enough to intimidate church
7:28 p.m. Thursday, November 1, 2007
Police were originally called out for a report of vandalism. The writing in spray paint is on a sign and a fence around the Westboro Baptist Church, a church notorious for picketing fallen soldiers' funerals.
The vandals spray-painted "God Hates Intolerance" and "God Hates the Phelps" -- a play on the Phelps sign that says "God Hates Fags." The church believes God is taking the lives of soldiers as punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
While investigating the graffiti, police spotted two unknown devices, which was reason enough for them to call out the bomb squad.
Topeka Police shut down traffic on 12th Street while officers, the K-9 unit and bomb squad investigated.
Westboro Church member Margie Phelps blames the threat on Wednesday's verdict. A Baltimore jury ordered the church to pay nearly $11 million to Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., the father of a fallen Marine.
Related stories
49 News brought you this story first. See the orginal report by Crime and Safety Reporter Jesse Fray.
Learn more about the lawsuit that police believe may have prompted the vandalism. See story on Phelps' reaction to the jury's sentence in the case.
"Whenever there's a dialing up or a new surge of the effort to stop us all, the little varmints come out of the wood work and out of the dark," Phelps said.
The bomb squad found two small homemade fireworks. Police say one of them was lit but didn't explode.
When asked if the threat was big enough to make her want to leave Topeka, Phelps laughed and said no.
Neighbors of the church wouldn't go on camera. They're opinion of the threat the church poses to the neighborhood was split.
Phelps says the neighbors safety concerns aren't her problem.
When asked what about the safety of children who play a big part in the Phelps picketing, Phelps cited other dangers out there to children and said a higher power would protect them.
"What I need to clarify is the fact that there are people with harm on their mind. [It] is not the same thing as us or our children being in danger because the king of eternity has our back," she said.
Phelps said she didn't know how long it would take them to remove the graffiti from the fence and sign, but no vandalism or bomb scare could stop the church from spreading its message.
Comments
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Nov. 2, 2007 at 1:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)likearock (anonymous)
Evidently it's true; You reap what you sow.
The pompous and self rightious are made small and rediculous.
And anyone who would attempt to teach others by the use of redicule will always fall short of their objective.
People who cause disturbance in this world, whether they be straight or gay, christian or non-believer, taliban or little old ladies are themselves disturbed.
What people (all people) should do is try to make their own individual selves a better person and then probably the world would be a better place for everyone with far less abuse.
Nov. 2, 2007 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)grim_farva (anonymous)
I think its funny that they called the people who did it varmints. The only varmints I see are the Phelps themselves. They go around and picket funerals, and other things, and make Topeka look bad, and yet they call other people varmints. I think its truly sad that they have little kids picketing with them. That is just sick. There is no reason for them to have kids out there with them, and then for them to say that the saftey of their neighbors is not there problem. That just shows that they only care about themselves, and nobody else. If they were really doing gods work, they would care about every person, no matter what race, religion or sexual orentation. It makes me sick to hear them say that they are a church, and are going gods work. I think they should come out and say what they really are, and thats a cult. They are no better than the KKK. I truly hope that the judgement hold up in appeals, so they have to pay the $10.9 millon. Hopefuly then they would have to sell the church, and force them to stop the damn picketing and then we wouldn't have to put up with there crap anymore.
Nov. 3, 2007 at 12:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)tweedermp (anonymous)
well its about time that this congrigation gets introuble for protesting the body that fought for thier right of freedom of speech. i am not against having freedoms. i have served in the army and given up many of my rights. i have been deployed to both iraq and afghanistan. i did my job in both places to the best of my ability. i did this to keep america free. but it is demeaning to me and all of the other great troops that have been forced into fighting a war whether or not we supported it. personally i support the war and our great president. if mr phelps feels so strongly against the nation then why does he still live here. maybe he should move to a different nation and then protest soldiers. but while he lives in our nation he needs to support the soldiers that fight for his rights. soldiers are a representation of the whole nation each and everytime we go to another nation. we do not represent just the government but also the westboro chuch and every other person in the great USA. if mr phelps feels so strongly against the government then he needs to march is body to washington dc and protest there. not at a funeral of a soldier that has done his best and died. mr phelps is making every protest personal to every family member of soldiers that have died fighting for thier country that every soldier loves. the law suit perfectly suits the cause its not a freedom to desicrate a funeral of a soldier because he fought in a war. that is just plain disrespectful to all americans. what do you think would happen if mr phelps and his congregation did this in WWII? the people of topeka would drive them 20 mi out of town, tar and feather them, and make them walk back to town. i ask what has happened to this great nation to let people violate the few rights soldiers have. let each and every soldier's funeral happen in peace, protest in washington, and have a peaceful time being an *** away from fallen soldiers.
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