Kids like these give me hope for the future: Shawnee Mission East HS vs. Fred Phelps

[LynneSin]

http://www.kansascity.com/703/story/1020190.html

Hundreds outside Shawnee Mission East stage counterprotest to Fred Phelps

If the lessons were tolerance and peaceful political action, it was clear Thursday that hundreds of people had signed up for the course outside Shawnee Mission East High School.

Upon learning that members of Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church planned to protest at the school, students acted quickly — and on their own — to mount a counterprotest showing their disdain for the church’s anti-gay message.

The students, along with like-minded parents and other adults, gathered at 75th Street and Mission Road, swelling onto three corners of the Prairie Village intersection. The Phelps group was confined to the fourth corner.

Students held signs reading, “God is love,” “God does not hate” and “No hate in P.V.”

Westboro members believe that God is punishing America for tolerating homosexuality. They have drawn harsh criticism across the nation for picketing at the funerals of servicemen and servicewomen.

Nor did the church’s tactics sit well with students at Shawnee Mission East, where, according to student Jake Davidson, there is a Gay and Straight Alliance and students elected a homecoming king in 2007 who was gay.

“Everyone is equal, whether you’re gay or straight,” said Davidson, a 16-year-old junior from Leawood and an organizer of the student protest.

<<<snip>>>

Several students were taking donations for AIDS research with a goal of raising $250 for every minute the Phelps group stood across the street.

“We’re going over that goal now,” said Alexxus Abreu, a 17-year-old senior wearing a T-shirt that read “God loves me” and carrying a bucket of donations.

[LynneSin]

1. BTW here's the photo gallary of the protest

http://www.kansascity.com/938/gallery/1019517-a1019577-t3.html#

[peace13]

3. Great photos!

Wonderful support by the students! K&R so people here can see this beautiful sight.

[DrDan]

2. wow - and Shawnee Mission is as red as it gets

perhaps once this new generation takes over, some sanity will be restored

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. This was in our paper this morning. I was really proud of them.

And all from Johnson County, Ks - home of Phil Kline, no less.

[Kansas Wyatt]

7. Phil Kline accepted a teaching job in Virginia last month.

Sorry Virginia, but Kansas finally got rid of him.

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. These kids are out in Johnson County - really wealthy area.

A lot of the people there are very educated and very liberal. They aren't like the farming part of the state.

I love what these kids are doing.

[tridim]

5. Wow, that school is in my former school district.

That protest would have never happened when I was in HS.

Johnson County is just about the most conservative place in the country. The main reason I left was because I couldn't stand the passive Republican politics there. Looks like things are finally changing.

[Aristus]

6. I'm in tears. This is wonderful.

God bless those kids. And their parents and the other participating adults. This is what America is all about. I'm so proud... :patriot:

[LynneSin]

9. What really impressed me was that these kids are in a red state

and yet what they done isn't democrat or republican - it is what all americans should do when faced with hate

[FlavinMemmingen]

8. It doesn't;t surprise me that of the Shawnee Mission Schools ...

it was at SM East this was to happen.

Having worked there several years ago, I found the student body to be very politically engaged, and surprisingly for the Red Zone that is Johnson County, VERY Liberal. Even more of a surprise was that this engagement was pretty much respected and allowed to flourish by the administration/staff/faculty. The had an actively GBLT organization when I was there in the early 0's

Quite a different environment than the other HS in the District.
Having a step-daughter who attended SM South, the environment at east was often derided by the staff at the other HS which were more... conservative. In thought. In dress. In activities. and in goals.

The Student Government made very sound decisions and worked to get their voices heard in many school management decisions.

Go Lancers.

Flavin

[Romulox]

11. Too bad we can't a bong in FRED Phelps hands! nt

[hootinholler]

12. GOOD. A group from the local CC ran them off here...

300+ gathered on two days notice. Once it started and word that it was a Phelps counter protest got out, passers by stopped to add to the din.

-Hoot