Staged photo? Westboro Baptist Church claims protest at Whitney Houston funeral when none is apparent

Westboro Baptist Church, the small congregation known for its propensity to hurl promises of hell at funeral mourners, claims to be in Newark confronting protesters at the funeral of Whitney Houston.

A Twitter account cited as that of the church pastor's daughter, Margie Phelps, tweeted a low-resolution image of protesters this afternoon as the funeral took place.

Star-Ledger reporters on the scene said access to that area had been restricted all day, and confirmed no active protests were occurring in the place depicted in the photograph.

Phelps tweeted several taunting messages to media outlets and Occupy Newark protesters who organized to surround Westboro Baptist members if they showed up today:

"Did my friends @BET see these lovelies? Such fun singing to @OccupyWallSt This picket is rocking the house! @NJ_News "

"All NJ & all who came to lie about Whitney's Godless life saw these beauties!She's in hell! #NoWordsByCelebsChangeThat "

Occupy Newark protesters reported they were on their way to confront Westboro's members, but as of 1:30 p.m. didn't respond to requests for confirmation they were there.

Star-Ledger reporters on the scene confirmed the presence of three Occupy protesters with a sign that reads "Occupy prays for another soul our community could not save."

 

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