Counter-Demonstrators Massively Outnumber, Drown Out Westboro Picketers @ Wilson High
(Feb. 19, 2010, updated w/ video and large photo gallery) -- LBReport.com provides VIDEO and photo coverage of events as members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church encountered counter-demonstrators when they chose to picket at Long Beach's Wilson High School.
A large crowd of counter-demonstrators (we very roughly estimate over 1,000 but under 3,000) -- most of them students exiting Wilson High School at the end of the Friday school day -- outnumbered and drowned out the Westboro picketers. Many of the counter-demonstrating students carried hand-made signs.
Photo credit: Chris Brito
Photo credit: Chris Brito
Before school let out, counter-demonstrators already occupied three of the former corners at the intersection of Ximeno and 10th St. with picketers relegated to the NW corner...and some counter-demonstrators occupying nearby sidewalk.
Photo credit: Chris Brito
Photo credit: Chris Brito
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle
At 2:50 p.m., exiting students swelled the crowd, moving westward on 10th St. Counter-demonstrators carried signs ridiculing the picketers; a young man with a slide trombone offered buffoonish sounds...and at least twice, counter demonstrators chanted "go home, go home."
Among those in the crowd of counter-demonstrators: Councilmembers Tonia Reyes Uranga, Robert Garcia and LB School Board candidate Jeff Price.
Shortly after 3 p.m., a van drove up escorted by LBPD units; some Westboro picketers entered the van.
A Wilson High students expresses his views with a digital salute:
LBReport.com video screen save
The van drove off...and the counter-demonstrators cheered wildly.
By about 3:15 p.m., the crowd was dispersing.
LBPD says initial reports indicated no arrests.
Earlier in the afternoon, a smaller but equally contemptuous crowd of counter-demonstrators met the Westboro picketers at the Alpert Jewish Community Center. No arrests were reported at that site either.
The Westboro picketers announced a schedule of sites on Sat. Feb. 20 and Sun. Feb. 21...and LBReport.com will continue to follow this story.
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