On Friday, Jan. 14, AU was a university to be proud of. In the face of a small group with messages of hate and with the media spotlight upon us, we had several options. We could have responded in kind to the Westboro Baptist Church’s statements of hate and hurled invectives across the thin police tape. We could have all come up with somewhere else to be and left them to rant at cars passing by on Massachusetts Ave.
Instead, we organized a peaceful protest that displayed our campus’ unity for the world to see.
Although the Westboro Baptist Church protesters were reportedly unimpressed by our counter-protest, we believe that our response to their appearance was dignified and skillfully executed. They came here to whip us up into a fervor over their hateful and crazy words. They succeeded, but we won.
As a school known for its political activity and love of protests (really, who hasn’t gone to at least one in their years here?), to not have responded in some manner to the group’s offensive presence on our doorstep was unimaginable and unrealistic. But rather than play into their hands, we took the higher road and assembled peacefully and joyfully.
We tip our hats to Jonathan Lipton, Tara Culp-Ressler, Student Government President Nate Bronstein, AU Queers and Allies, On a Sensual Note, Dime a Dozen, AU Methodists and all others that played a key role in the “Rally to Reaffirm Sanity.” The rally was well done, smoothly run and organized in less than a week.
We commend and thank you for helping show the Westboro Baptist Church that we are not perverts and brats with broken moral compasses, but rather loyal and loving individuals that band together when most needed.
edpage@theeagleonline.com
