Protesting the Westboro Baptist Church in San Francisco

Filed Under Pranks on 2010-01-29, 12:27

I couldn’t resist joining in the fun of an absurdist “counter protest” of the Westboro Baptist Church’s protest in front of Twitter’s office building. My sign:

Photo by LiveSoMa

After the WBC packed up and left, one of the officers stopped me and asked if they could have my sign to give to their sergeant. How could you say no to that? In seconds it was stashed in his car for him to find later.


Photo by Rubin Starset

I also stashed my Flip camera in my front pocket to record the event. I got a lot of shots of people’s waists, but pasted together a bit of video to show what the scene was like.

UPDATE:
Sam? also got a shot with my “backup sign”: God Hates Retweets.

There were quite a few people with cameras there. Here are the ones I’ve found so far:
Photos from LiveSoMa
Photos from asylum.com
Photos from sam?
Photos from chada
Photos from EDW Lynch
Photos from Zack L

Tagged: , ,


Comments

  • Emily
    i want so badly to attend a counter-protest against these people. i used to want to make a meaningful sign, but they can't be reasoned with haha so the humorous signs are so brilliant. it makes their bullshit even more obviously a joke.
    how about..

    God can haz cheezberger?
    I'm so thirsty
    How are you today?
    No shirt, no shoes, no pants
    Don't eat cat food.
    LOL RT: @Westboroxbitchz god hates fags
    Mustache Enthusiast

    yeah?
  • bob
    well i dont like the church very much i mean i had a chance to go there when i was a kid and the priest said "boy get that fat ass on the comp" but i clicked a rub button BOOOM I DEAD
  • schmittmike
    This is sheer brilliance. Jesus said the world will know you're my followers by your love. I think humor is a great way to show love and difuse the hate that groups like Westboro promote.

    I want to know when the next one is... I'll road-trip it to get there if I have to.

    PS... the "Wash Clothes, Not Brains" idea is fantastic! I want a shirt or bumper sticker that says that.
  • Hahaha! Hilarious! I love you guys! x3
  • If possible, please let me know when we can make signs again. How about:
    "I have blisters on my fingers! John: Helster Skelter, 1968".
    "God Hates Mondays"
    "God Hates Religion"
    "God Hates Signs"
    "God Hates Alphabet Soup"
    "God Hates Sneezing"
    "Wash Clothes, Not Brains"
    I can go on and on.
  • debord guy
    hey what font are you using on the god hates signs maker??
  • This made my day. I know the folks at Twitter were worried about the possible actions of counter-protesters, but this couldn't have been handled any better. Well done everybody!!
  • Kate
    Silly Hats Only!! HOORAY!
  • Steve
    I love your protest sign. Is it a reference to something or is that a phrase you came up with? I want to see someone holding that sign at every major event and demonstration. I want to see one during this week's superbowl.
  • mommabear33
    I am avid Christian. Jesus taught love and example by goodness! These people are so NOT representing the Christ I love and serve! They need to pick up the Bible and read it! God is love, not this horrible display.
    Thank you so much for your incredibly humorous retort in fun and in a spirit of fun and to me a way of gentle love in return for their hate. AWESOME! Wish I were there, I would have loved to join in!
  • Jeigh
    I only wish I could attend one of their protests with a sign saying:

    "FAG HATES GODS"

    *sign*
  • Kev
    Even though he hates you, God bless you for the work you guys do.
  • anonmoose
    DOG HATES CATS!
  • Lex
    Also, I love your hair.
  • Lex
    Sporks ARE evil; I'm glad someone is bringing attention to that very important cause.
  • Since Fred Phelps and his crew pretend to speak on behalf of Christianity, I think Christians have a particular responsibility to condemn his hatemongering. In 2008, he proposed to come to Canada to protest outside the funeral of a man who had been murdered on a Grey Hound bus. No particular reason - just to spoew filth. The Canadian government barred him from entry. But at the time, I proposed that Christians should stage a counter-protest using a similar but distinctly Christian strategy.
  • davelf2
    God has a wonderful sense of humor, but Fred hates humor, esp. humor that counters his dour message of fear and loathing. Your signs are some of the best, guys, this was super-effective, because it made us all laugh. Well, maybe not all. Fred can't laugh, he's too busy hiding his sexuality.
  • clarityinthedefaultworld
    So glad you guys were there! I couldn't be there but would have set up a desk with a complaint line to God.
  • FTW
  • RE
    Unicorn guy with the sign "God hates ponies" is fucking brilliant!!!!!
  • Oh no! What's a gay pony to do??
  • RoadScholar
    You're not supposed to ask.

    And he's not supposed to tell.
  • SENSE!
    should do this for every single protest. maybe theyll get tired and give up...
    by the way, have oyu seen the louis theroux doc on them? Man, those are some crazy people.

    i want in on the next one.
  • katie
    ahahah that's amusing =D
  • Sami K.
    Ha! Silly Hats Only! :) You guys rock
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