University of Illinois Student Schools the Westboro Baptist Church
By James Brady RyanMarch 29th, 2010, 2:10 pmComments (8)There has been much debate about how best to respond to a group of crazies like the WBC. Some say ignore them completely, some say counter-protest, and some say a sock filled with quarters can do great things. (I kid!) But this student from the UIC came up with a elegantly awesome approach: instead of yelling back or doing nothing, he set up a space by the WBC where people could donate money to organizations that help LGBT-related causes. It's the kind of genius, turn-a-negative-into-a-positive thinking I am not very good at:
On a personal note: I was once pulled out of school one day to counter-protest the WBC with my parents. In person, they are seriously just the saddest little rag-tag group of doddering old people and bored/crazy-looking children. Just a fun fact to keep in mind when you see pictures like this:
Image via Buzzfeed.
Commentarium (8 Comments)
It's things like this that make me wish Hallmark made "Thanks for your heroism" cards.
Epic win!! Jason is the man. That's so awesome I don't even have anything to say.
is jason single?
This is kind of like what I've seen Planned Parenthood do, which is to have folks donate so much per anti-abortion protester that mobs one of their offices. The more protesters that come out, the more their organization raises. Though I do like Jason's suggestion about donating in the name of the WBC and sending them the thank-you cards :)
True, but the WBC is fringe enough so that they REALLY look ridiculous.
Sweet. That's pretty rad of Jason to do!
Nice!! For the record, the University of Illinois & UIC are not the same school, and people up here in Chicago just say UIC not THE UIC.
Epic win for Jason - so awesome to see that someone came up with an idea like this!