Admittedly, I was a bit worried when I first heard that the infamous hate group, which calls itself the Westboro Baptist Church, posted their intentions to picket various locations in Hampton Roads. As the District Leader for the 2nd and 4th Congressional Districts for the LGBT Stonewall Democratic Caucus of Virginia, I was in discussions with folks in Richmond (who were also being targeted by this group), on how the caucus might help organize a response locally.

The truth was, we weren’t ready to take any lead on organizing locally. While the caucus in Richmond joined with the Gay Community Center of Richmond, People of Faith for Equality in Virginia, First Unitarian Universalist Church, Unitarian Universalist Church of Glen Allen, Metropolitan Community Church -Richmond, Richmond Lesbian Feminists, Mothers & Others, Fan Free Clinic, PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), the Rainbow Minute, Queer Action VCU, VCU’s Men Against Violence,  Virginia Pride, Equality Virginia, the $3 Bills, and Richmond Triangle Players to organize peaceful, but clear resistance, to the picketers; organizations in Hampton Roads aren’t like those in Richmond, and any sort of meeting to prepare a response was unlikely to happen.

I was also concerned that, without any leadership, the counter-protest that began to materialize via Facebook could get ugly. The last thing I wanted to see was the community break into a riot, or this become a scene filled with screaming profanity against the WBC. All anyone could do was wait, watch, and see what would happen at the first scheduled location. I don’t think anyone really knew what the atmosphere would be like.

Yesterday afternoon at 2:00 pm, the Westboro Baptist Church was met by a crowed outside of Granby High School in Norfolk, VA, that was overwhelmingly positive in their message and response to the WBC. Many brought with them humorous or inspirational signs, which they held up around the picketing group. In one picture I took, a young man pokes fun at Fred Phelps, founder of the WBC, with a sign saying Phelps “was in poltergeist.”

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The finale to the evening was a prayer service at Temple Israel, which was also a scheduled WBC target. Leaders invited anyone to join them for the service, but not to counter-protest outside. As it turned out, no counter-protest was needed. The WBC didn’t show up.

Those who attended the service joined as people persecuted, but also people with hope. One rabbi praised the strength of the youth response, noting that they knew right from wrong, and that seeing the youth out to support tolerance and speak out against hate was the highlight to what could have otherwise been a dreadful day. At the end of the service, clergy from various faiths joined together to offer a priestly benediction.

The Westboro Baptist Church came to Norfolk in an attempt to spread hate and cause violence. They were met with hundreds of people who joined together in a positive way. Instead of causing division, their attempt strengthened the community. I guess in a humorous way, we should be grateful for the opportunity the WBC provided for us to stand together against hate.

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