TuttleTree.com

This morning around 10:15 on the Preston and Steve radio show, they read portions of an email I sent in asking them to publicize a Facebook group encouraging people to donate money to the Matthew Shepard Foundation as an economic counter-protest to the Westboro Baptist Church's protest outside of Cherry Hill East High School in New Jersey (technically considered to be in the Philadelphia area).

I'm working on getting the audio clip from the show, but in the meantime, here's the email that I sent in.

Monday (December 7th), the Westboro Baptist Church — the "God Hates Fags" people — protested at different events and locations all over the Philadelphia area; including outside of Cherry Hill East High School in NJ.

This location is of particular interest because an alumnus of the high school — Melody Kramer — took it upon herself to set up a Facebook group asking people to pledge $1 per minute that the WBC protesters stood outside her alma mater to the Matthew Shepard Foundation (http://www.matthewshepard.org/), instead of protesting back and giving these people the attention they crave. In a matter of days, the group had over 1,400 members, pledging well over $43,000.

The protest has come and gone and happened without much incident. Fortunately, it's never too late to give!

I only hope a few of my fellow WMMR and PnS listeners can find it in their hearts to donate a few dollars to a good cause. I've included some information below.

The facebook group is here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=214656452473

To donate specifically in recognition of WBC:

• Go to this link
• Click on, "Honor Giving"
• Enter "CHERRY HILL" under the honoree
• Fill out the rest of the form as you otherwise normally would
• If you want to send a polite thank-you note to the folks at WBC, their address is:
  3701 SW 12th St
  Topeka, KS 66604

 

I suggest you keep your messages annoyingly polite, as these people thrive on retaliation and violence. Mine was: "Thank you for helping to raise $35,000 for the Matthew Shepard Foundation through your demonstration at Cherry Hill East High School in New Jersey."

I'm told that they should be able to send me an MP3 of just that portion of the show, and I've requested it. If I don't receive it, I'll check their daily podcast to see if it's included in that, and can isolate it myself. Hopefully I'll be able to get it for you one way or another.

I'm intentionally not linking to the Westboro Baptist Church's website, as they make money from advertising, and that would indirectly fund their efforts. Instead, if you're looking for information on them, I encourage you to check the news instead. (Or search for "Westboro Baptist Church" on Google News).