TACOMA, Wash. – The head of the anti-gay church that threatened to protest Saturday's funeral of Charlie and Braden Powell now says the group will not come after being granted an interview on a syndicated radio show.
Whether or not Westboro Baptist Church followers showed up at Life Center Church in Tacoma, the boys’ grandparents have a message for everyone: Come to honor Charlie and Braden or don’t come at all.
A post on the Twitter feed of Fred Phelps, Jr., the founder of the hate group, reads, “Just finished interview with @BobbyDshow. Bobby D. Was a real gentleman. Washington trip now cancelled.”
On his website, Tacoma-based syndicated radio host Bobby D said he learned that Westboro had agreed in the past to call off protests in favor of radio interviews. After speaking with Phelps, Bobby D said he reluctantly agreed to record an interview with Phelps if the church promised not to protest at the funeral. Bobby D said the interview will air Monday, unless Westboro breaks its word and shows up. In that case, the interview will be destroyed.
Bobby D said he has received angry calls, emails and a death threat already for the trade, but insists "it (sic) about the family. It's not about you, it's not about WBC, it's not about this show and it sure isn't about me."
Phelps’ daughter tweeted Wednesday that church members, notorious for protesting at military funerals, would be there to spread their message of hate. Margie Phelps claimed the Powell boys died because God was not happy that Washington state is on the verge of passing a law to legalize gay marriage.
That led to more than 1,800 people on Facebook, as well as Occupy Seattle, pledging to show up to counter protest. Another Facebook page was launched asking people to counter protest by not showing up. The page creator claims Westboro just wants to incite people to violence, possibly to sue.
Several other groups, including three biker groups and the National Patriot Guard Riders, offered support and protection. The groups want to meet together a few blocks away to be on standby if Westboro shows up.
Chuck and Judy Cox, the boy's grandparents, and the church pastor are asking anyone on either side whose intent is to protest to stay away from the Life Center Church Saturday morning. The public is invited to attend the 11 a.m. funeral, which is expected to last about an hour.
Some on the Facebook group commented they would honor the family's request, while others indicated they may still show up just in case.
Pastor Dean Curry also said he sent an email to Westboro, asking them to not to protest.
“I just said, ‘Hey. I’m the pastor that’s going to be a part of this service for these two children, two little children, innocent children for goodness sake. And maybe this isn’t the moment to express your political agenda in the name of God,’” said Curry. “The ‘grownups’ have been in the media attention enough. This is about two little boys.”
A Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman tells MyNorthwest.com said they have experience dealing with Westboro members at police officer funerals. He said police were able to make the protesters virtually invisible.
Of course, there is no way to know if Westboro really will stay home, just as there’s no way to know if they were ever really planned to be there in the first place. They have threatened to make appearances in the past and failed to show.
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