OKAY, ALL MY GENTILES, LISTEN UP.
Iâve spoken with the original poster, and I am going to ask you to REBLOG THIS. DO NOT JUST âLIKE,â DO NOT JUST READ, REBLOG.
First a very short story: Iâve had run-ins with WBC before. When I was in the National March for Equality, I was spit on by Shirley Phelps-Roper; I responded by turning my head in the other direction to show her my other cheek, smiling, and saying âJesus loves you, maâam.â She called me an animal and told me to rot in hell.
These are not nice people. These are not good people. These are not sane people. They will not harm you because doing so would leave them open to lawsuits, but they will do their damnedest to make your life unpleasant.
I AM CALLING ON YOU TO SPREAD THE WORD TO VIRGINIAN GENTILES TO ATTEND THIS TEMPLE SERVICE AND BLOCK WBC FROM ACCESS TO SYNAGOGUE MEMBERS AND THE TEMPLE ENTRANCE. If you are able to attend this service, hereâs what you should do (tips from a former picketer/marcher, i.e. myself):
âArrive about 7pm, if you can. Remain as late as you can into the temple service, or until WBC leaves. If you do not see them, remain anyway.
âIf media cover this story and wish to speak to you, be polite. Make âweâ and âeveryoneâ statements, such as âeveryone deserves the right to worship in peaceâ and âwe didnât think it was right for them to be harassing people who just want to pray.â Donât other yourself from the Jews in the temple or set yourself up as the Great Gentile Savior; do emphasize that this is a peaceful religious service being interrupted by hate.
âLeave your Jesus at home. You are attending in solidarity.
âLeave any Israel/Palestine conflict at home, too. This is not about Israel, it is about Jews who are being attacked for existing.
âMake sure you wear nice clothes, even if you need to wear sneakers in order to have comfy shoes to stand in. You will be outside the temple, but this is a religious serviceâitâs basic respect to those inside. (Itâll probably also make you look nicer than WBC. Their wardrobes are, um, lacking. And often slovenly.)
âDonât forget to take water!
âBe ready to walk with attendees to the temple, and to escort them away if necessary. Basically, be a âwalk buddyââit may not prevent things from being screamed at you, but sometimes the most powerful thing is knowing youâre not alone.
Itâs best not to engage at all. But if you want to carry counter-protest signs to support temple attendees, I strongly recommend choosing quotes about love, peace, and strength by Jews. You have plenty to choose fromâamong other famous Jews like Maimonides and Anne Frank you can find such contemporary voices as Jon Larson (playwright/lyricist of RENT), Idina Menzel (the voice of Elsa), Adam Lambert, and Dan Radcliffe. Do not accompany such signs with shouting, jeering, singing, etc.âhold them in silence.
Additions and addendums to this post by Jewish voices are welcome and encouraged if Iâve made a mistake or left out something important.