Creative communities require unique choreography and sometimes that means trying out a new step, especially when communities face groups whose ideals conflict with creative community values of education, diversity, technology, entrepreneurship and place.
The Westboro Baptist Church, a hate group from Topeka, KS, (“Baptist” in name only, not in spirit; it is not affiliated with a Baptist denomination) is such a group. Westboro, which has built its notoriety on picketing the funerals of coal miners, Marines and other heroes to promote their message that “God hates America for tolerating gay people” and who hold signs up proclaiming that "God Hates Fags" and "God Hates Dead Miners", plans to picket in Charleston April 8th and Wheeling April 10th.
This is a great opportunity to get creative and try out a new step, and that is just what the Charleston-based Covenant House, under the Direction of Amy Weintraub, is doing.
The Westboro group will encounter a “mob”: a flash mob of dancing protesters in Charleston. It will look something like this:
Volunteers will meet at 5:30pm on Wednesday evening April 7 in the Covenant House parking lot located at 600 Shrewsbury Street in Charleston to learn the dance moves. Then, on April 8, these volunteers will be notified via phone when to show up for the “flash mob” demonstration for peace and inclusion in front of the Westboro hate-mongers.
It’s a creative, counter-solution to this situation. To learn more and participate, visit this Covenant House site with details, or join the Facebook event page.
This is one creative way to counter act groups that bring negativity and fear into a community that can harm our business and social climate. Create WV fully supports the Covenant House Flash Mob protest and we encourage you to participate.
Crystal Good, Create WV diversity initiative leader, will be a part of the Flash Mob along with many other Create WV volunteers. Good will also distribute the West Virginia State Chamber signs that protest Westboro and promote WV inclusion and tolerance to anyone who request them. Click here to read the WV State Chamber's remarks on Westboro.
Contact Crystal at cgoodwoman@rocketmail.com for more information on the Flash Mob in Charleston, and support for the Wheeling protest on WV State Chamber of Commerce anti-hate signs.
I read that someone recently
I read that someone recently countered their hate with a clever idea. Instead of trying to scream them down, this student set up a booth and collected donations for the very causes they despise. Military survivors, AIDS research, various Gay/Lesbian groups, etc. He then donated all proceeds in WBC's name and sent them ...thank-you cards. Kill them with kindness. Win-win.See More
5 hours
Flash Mob
What a great way to meet hate face to face... with song and dance!! I love it that West Virginians will not tolerate such extreme negativity. Let the Westboro Hate Mongers tell the rest of the world that WV is "almost Heaven" and we won't condone their actions. I wish I could be there with you to dance, but I hope the next time.... :)
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