Published: January 11, 2018
On Monday, Feb. 6, five members of the Westboro Baptist Church arrived at Clayton High School to protest the school’s Gay Straight Alliance that contradicts their beliefs. Five minutes before the Westboro Baptist Church picketers arrived, hundreds of counter protesters arrived as well. Demonstrations began and church picketers and counter protesters stood on the damp ground, chanting and singing through the fog.
“They didn’t even have the courtesy to come in March,” counter protester Tamela DeMent said, “when at least the weather is nice.”
School started and, along with parents and other counter protest supporters, many students were also outside supporting their fellow peers involved in GSA. The two groups of counter protesters and protesters were divided by a buffer zone of approximately 30 feet with at least ten police officers standing by.
“We did a lot of planning. We made sure we separated the two,” Clayton Police Department Chief Tom Byrne said, “We expected a peaceful protest and it was.”
The church members were unavailable for comment, but they announced on their website that they planned to arrive at 6:30 to protest at Fort Zumwalt East and 7:50 at Clayton. The members never went to FZE but arrived at Clayton before 8 am.
Many of the counter protesters heard the news of the protest through social media and news. Counter protester Jennifer Grotpeter, who had previously participated in environmental protests, felt the need to support GSA members after hearing about the protest through social media . With Grotpeter were her young children.
“The kids have school soon, but I think you’re never too young to see social justice,” Grotpeter said.
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