Westboro Baptist Church plans to protest at Angelou's funeral [View all]

[Mira]

Westboro Baptist Church plans to protest at Angelou's funeral ---Ghouls seem to be gathering







Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., is planning to protest the funeral of Maya Angelou, the award-winning author and international celebrity who died Wednesday at her Winston-Salem home. Angelou was 86.

Rebecca Phelps-Davis, a church spokeswoman, confirmed Friday that five to 10 of her fellow church members will stage a demonstration at Angelou’s funeral. Angelou’s family hasn’t officially announced the funeral arrangements.

What do you think of Westboro Baptist Church’s planned protest at Maya Angelou’s funeral?

What do you think of Westboro Baptist Church’s planned protest at Maya Angelou’s funeral?

Phelps-Davis said that Westboro Baptist decided to stage the protest immediately after Angelou died. The church is known for its protests at the funerals of American military personnel. It says that God is punishing the United States because its armed forces support gay rights.

The church will protest Angelou’s funeral because Angelou supported same-sex marriage and gay rights, Phelps-Davis said. The organization’s demonstrators will stand on a sidewalk or another public place near Angeou’s funeral site and display signs against the iconic author.

Phelps-Davis also defended the hateful messages about Angelou that Westboro Baptist members and followers have posted to Twitter.

“Maya Angelou had a platform that she never used to glorify God,” Phelps-Davis said. “Same-sex marriage will destroy America.

“The American people are making a mockery of this death because they are treating Angelou like she was their best friend,” Phelps-Davis said.

The Rev. Serenus Churn is the pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church where Angelou was a member for more than 30 years. Churn, who led the first memorial service for Angelou on Thursday, discounted Westboro Baptist planned protest.

“It is unfortunate that they are some sick people filled with hatred and malice,” Churn said. “They are trying to desecrate the memory of someone who spoke for fair play and justice.

“Dr. Angelou was always concerned with equality of all human beings,” Churn said. “That is what they are opposed to. Nothing that they will do will diminish her stature.


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