Protesting the Topeka Protesters 

Riders come from as far as Mississippi to protest

 

About a dozen American flag-waving motorcycle riders and several others who shared their sentiments, led by the Journey 4 Justice group, stood Saturday morning across from Westboro Baptist Church in the latest counterprotest against the Topeka congregation.

The counterprotests began in early June and have continued each weekend. The Journey 4 Justice group, which focuses only on the Westboro church, was started by Charley Barnes, a personality on K99 radio in Greeley, Colo.

As they stood in front yards on the north side of the 3700 block of S.W. 12th, the counterprotesters looked directly at the Westboro church, which has gained national and international attention for its picketing of service members’ funerals.

About 20 American flags that were flying upside down were displayed atop a wooden privacy fence that surrounds the Westboro church.

Some of those at Saturday's counterprotest claimed affiliation with other groups, including the Minutemen — a group that opposes illegal immigration — and the Patriot Guard, a group of bikers that shields families from Westboro protesters at funerals.

"We have a problem with flying flags upside down, and we have a problem with these folks picketing military funerals," said Ed Hayes, of Overland Park, who is with the Minutemen of Kansas and Missouri. "I don't care if they call me names or if they call you  names. But leave our military alone. They're off-limits."

Members of the Journey 4 Justice group said they were asked to move along by Topeka police officers who were enforcing the city's picketing ordinance.

By Saturday afternoon, the Journey 4 Justice group had moved a few blocks north and west to S.W. 10th and Gage  Boulevard in Gage Park — one of the Westboro church's most well-known places to picket.

Chris Johnson, 47, rode his motorcycle nearly 325 miles Friday from Oberlin in northwest Kansas to  be at Saturday's counterprotest.

"We just want to show them we're here, and we ain't going nowhere," Johnson said. "It's wrong what they're doing, and we're here to point it out to them."

Four motorcycle riders from Mississippi arrived late Saturday afternoon in Topeka and plan to take part in other Journey 4 Justice counterprotests Sunday morning near the Westboro church and later at S.W. 10th and Gage.

Westboro spokesman Steve Drain on Saturday afternoon said church members weren't impressed with the turnout for the Journey 4 Justice counterprotest.

"If you're going to picket, come on," Drain said. "Seven or eight guys? Get a couple  thousand. If you're going to come, come strong or stay home."

Drain said the church made no apologies for its protests or for displaying the American flag upside-down.

He said if people make an idol out of the flag, "we're going to let them know about it."

He also said the Westboro church would continue its call for America to repent and stop sinning.

 

 

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