Texas A&M Students Form Human Wall To Block Westboro Baptist Church Protestors From Soldier's Funeral.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Hundreds of Texas A&M students gathered this week to form a human wall around the funeral service of a soldier to protect his family from Westboro Baptist Church protesters, KBTX.com reports.

Texas A&M alum Lt. Col. Roy Tisdale died on June 28 during a training exercise at Fort Bragg, N.C. Tisdale was killed by another soldier who then fatally shot himself.

Tisdale had served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the days after the soldier's death, word spread that Westboro Baptist Church members were planning to protest Tisdale's funeral.

Described as a "homophobic and anti-Semitic hate group" by the Anti-Defamation League, Westboro Baptist Church regularly stages protests around the country.

According to KBTX.com, the group, which is based in Kansas, frequently targets military funerals because of "a belief that God punishes soldiers because of America's tolerance of gays."

When Ryan Slezia, a former Texas A&M student, heard of the group's plans, he hatched a plot to foil their efforts.

"In response to their signs of hate, we will wear maroon. In response to their mob anger, we will form a line, arm in arm. This is a silent vigil. A manifestation of our solidarity," he wrote on Facebook, inviting others to join him in a peaceful protest.

On Thursday, as Tisdale's funeral was held at the Central Baptist Church in College Station, Tex., hundreds of students and alumni responded to Slezia's invation, linking arms to create a human barricade surrounding the church's entrance.

Most wore maroon -- A&M's school color. One participant tweeted that over 650 people showed up, creating a formidable "maroon wall."

We are standing here quietly. We are here for the family, Lilly McAlister, a Texas A&M student, told KBTX.com. "We are positioned with our backs to them. Everyone has been told there's no chanting, no singing, there's no yelling anything back."

The hundreds gathered were prepared for a potentially aggressive confrontation, but the protestors from Westboro Baptist Church never showed up.

Tisdale's body was peacefully laid to rest after the funeral at the Aggie Field of Honor -- a cemetery for Texas A&M students and staff.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/06/texas-am-students_n_1653002.html

This is awesome. Those Wesboro Baptist Church crazies are insufferable.

Edited July 16, 2012 by Evylin

[rocks 494]

This is awesome. Those Wesboro Baptist Church crazies are insufferable.

What a touching story. I wonder why the Westboro protesters didn't turn up.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

What a touching story. I wonder why the Westboro protesters didn't turn up.

They're cowards.

[rocks 494]

They're cowards.

If only we had known they were that easy to scare!

[JohnR! 5,495]

If only we had known they were that easy to scare!

Have you ever seen a bully take on someone his size? Bullies always go for those they believe than can hurt and get away with it...

Google 'Patriot Guard Riders' when you have some time. They are a bike club and have attended several funerals with the sole intent to keep the WBC from disrupting, disturbing or otherwise attaining the goal of lessening the burial of our heroes.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Have you ever seen a bully take on someone his size? Bullies always go for those they believe than can hurt and get away with it...

Google 'Patriot Guard Riders' when you have some time. They are a bike club and have attended several funerals with the sole intent to keep the WBC from disrupting, disturbing or otherwise attaining the goal of lessening the burial of our heroes.

That's amazing.

Some people are truly awesome.

[Ban Hammer 13,554]

Have you ever seen a bully take on someone his size? Bullies always go for those they believe than can hurt and get away with it...

Google 'Patriot Guard Riders' when you have some time. They are a bike club and have attended several funerals with the sole intent to keep the WBC from disrupting, disturbing or otherwise attaining the goal of lessening the burial of our heroes.

not several, unless you meant to say several hundred.

[JohnR! 5,495]

not several, unless you meant to say several hundred.

Well, you can say they've been everywhere... and they are a nice bunch to ride with.

[rocks 494]

That's amazing.

Some people are truly awesome.

It definitely reminds you that there are good people out there. I don't understand why the WBC is allowed to abuse their freedom of speech. Freedom of speech shouldn't be allowed to include negatively affecting the quality of life of other people.

[JohnR! 5,495]

It definitely reminds you that there are good people out there. I don't understand why the WBC is allowed to abuse their freedom of speech. Freedom of speech shouldn't be allowed to include negatively affecting the quality of life of other people.

Being the eternal optimist, I would rather they speak up so the whole world can know how deep their imbecility reaches.

In a roundabout way, it makes me proud that we live in a country where they are free to express their opinions and I am free to call them idiots. :rofl:

[rocks 494]

Being the eternal optimist, I would rather they speak up so the whole world can know how deep their imbecility reaches.

In a roundabout way, it makes me proud that we live in a country where they are free to express their opinions and I am free to call them idiots. :rofl:

I understand what you're saying. I would take some kind of pleasure in them all being in jail eternally though.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I understand what you're saying. I would take some kind of pleasure in them all being in jail eternally though.

Alas, IMHO they are. They are prisoners of their ignorance, hate and bigotry. Can you imagine a worse kind of hell ?

[rocks 494]

Alas, IMHO they are. They are prisoners of their ignorance, hate and bigotry. Can you imagine a worse kind of hell ?

No, not really. There was an interesting documentary on them many years ago by Louis Theroux, not sure if you've heard of him. I was shocked by how they put their young children out there to be attacked. I felt sorry for the kids.

[JohnR! 5,495]

No, not really. There was an interesting documentary on them many years ago by Louis Theroux, not sure if you've heard of him. I was shocked by how they put their young children out there to be attacked. I felt sorry for the kids.

Yep.. I know who Louis Theroux is although i have not seen this particular expose. As with all cowards, why shouldn't they send their kids to the front lines?

[rocks 494]

Yep.. I know who Louis Theroux is although i have not seen this particular expose. As with all cowards, why shouldn't they send their kids to the front lines?

The most hated family in America.

It's from 2007, so it is a little old now.

Here's a clip of the video with the kids. Be warned, it is horrible.

Edited July 16, 2012 by rocks