"We just wanted to do what we could to help," said Mike Larsen, who came to Salina from Lincoln, Neb., with friend Amanda Wesely, a popsicle stand and boxes of free popsicles.

The Westboro church members were in town primarily to protest Monday night's talk at Kansas State University at Salina by Ryan Sallans, who lives in Lincoln and has over the past few years made the transition from woman to man. Church members are known for their anti-gay protests nationwide, including at the funerals of homosexuals.

"I was thinking there would be more people from the church," Larsen said, setting up the stand across the street from the half-dozen protestors, who were gathered outside the Salina Journal for part of the afternoon.

"We decided to ditch school and come down," Wesely said.

With Monday's damp, chilly weather, hot chocolate might have been more welcome, but Larsen said the popsicles seemed more appropriate.

"Considering why they're here, there's kind of a subversive meaning to it as well," he said, smirking.

They briefly discussed whether she should offer popsicles to the Westboro members as well, and approached one of the half-dozen police officers monitoring the event and keeping the two sides separated.

"He said I could, but he'd rather I didn't," she said. "I guess I won't."

At each of the protestors' stops -- Salina South High School, the Salina Journal and K-State at Salina -- they were met by hundreds of counter-protestors, also carrying signs, singing hymns and yelling.

Among them was Berkley Matthews, a South High student who got together with her friends to make several signs. She followed the protests around the city, starting at school.

"I just think this is wrong, and people shouldn't be targeted for their choices," she said. "All they talk about is hate, and I don't believe in that."

As church members started to sing "God Hates America," many of the counter-protesters started singing "God Bless America" in response (the melody is the same.)

Lofting a sign that said "God Loves You," Matthews said she didn't like the messages of hate she was seeing from across the street.

"My signs are appropriate," she said. "Not like some of their signs."

n Reporter Mike Strand can be reached at 822-1418 or by e-mail at mstrand@salina.com.

Join the Discussion:

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Salina Resident says....
The phelps do if for publicity... that is all. It doesn't even make me tense seeing this. All they want is money of lawsuits and attention. It's all for publicity... simple.
11/29/2009

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Activist for Peace says....
I helped put together this protest. I was overwhelmed at the out pour of people to wanted to stand up for what they believe in...and that's exactly what the protest was about. It wasn't about trying to prove anything or change their minds..it was about having a mind and a voice that doesn't go to waste. No one agrees with the Phelps..except the Phelps..and that's because that are all brainwashed from birth. They were protesting our town as a whole because of our acceptance of gays and for our HS teaching spanish...what HS doesn't teach a alternative language?!
They are full of hate and what they say and do is so extreme...that its hard to believe it really happens. Thank you to everyone for using your mind and voice and standing up for what you believe in!
11/25/2009

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says....
The article doesnt say but they protested Salina South due to the ESL program and because they have a very diverse group of students... Im glad to see the younger generation doesnt think the same as the phelps cult.
11/24/2009

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Praying for everyone who is different says....
I hope everyone realizes as they sit in the front row at church on Sunday that god knows about the judgement you have on others. I say let people be who they want to be. Do you judge someone by the color of their hair or the shirt on their back...Same thing. God says don't hate but you're doing the one thing that you should of learned at church. I didn't need to be in the front row to learn that one. Its the same racism crap in a differnt form. Once these people die out America will truly be a better place.
11/24/2009

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Donna Rowe says....
I'm proud of the young men and women from South High who came out to counter-protest. They make me hopeful for the future of our country.
11/24/2009

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Lover of the Lord and the Bible says....
We all know what the Bible says about this but I would love to see some signs that also talk about how people who have affairs destroy families. There are so many more hurt by the choice of having an affair than by someone who has decided to change their sex. What would Jesus say to this person? Who are any of us to cast the first stone? What does you heart look like to the Lord?
11/24/2009

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says....
this is ridiculous. you people should be ashamed of yourself for even thinkin the way you do. God loves everyone, unfortunately, he loves you too. SUCK IT UP PHELPS!
11/24/2009

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says....
By "this kinda stuff should have NEVER been allowed in the Salina area" did you mean the message of Gods Love? Or the HATE filled speech of small minded biggots? I'll pretend you mean the HATE filled speech, in which case I agree!! The youth of today get it, its just too bad their older adult counter parts do not.
11/24/2009

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Journal Reader says....
Anonymous, could you be specific? Do you refer in your statement to the "trash, garbage or whatever you want to call it" that oozes out of the Westboro Baptist church or are you referring to the transgender gentleman who spoke in Salina?
11/24/2009

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says....
I hope you're talking about the Phelps group -- but why would you only want them not in the Salina area? Plus, there's something called the First Amendment. I don't like 'em either, but cutting off people's right to free speech is a slippery slope.
11/24/2009

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annoynomus says....
This kinda stuff should have NEVER been allowed in the Salina area. This is TRASH,GARBAGE, and whatever else you want to call it
11/24/2009

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