By Keitha Nelson - bio | email
GEISMAR, LA (WAFB) - A high school play in Louisiana has caught the attention of a radical independent church in Kansas. Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Kansas, is well known for its controversial views. The group is targeting an Ascension Parish school.
Dutchtown High School's drama department is scheduled to perform "The Laramie Project," a story about Matthew Shepard, a homosexual man who was brutally murdered in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. Westboro Baptist Church has a lengthy list of places to protest in the coming weeks, including Dutchtown High School.
"It's unfortunate that they would have an interest in coming down here for something like that," said Jonnie Balfantz of the Ascension Parish School System.
Balfantz said the drama students at Dutchtown have worked hard to put the play together.
"We will protect their rights to make sure they're not disrupted in any kind of way by this group or any other group," Balfantz said.
A counter protest is gaining ground on Facebook. About 700 people have been invited and nearly 90 have stated they will attend.
"This is the United States of America," said Richard White, a parent. "People do have the right to protest and have different opinions. That's what makes this country so great, but the venue has got to be the right venue."
Lauren Stansbury, who is among the group members holding a counter protest, said the group plans to peacefully respond to the church's hatred and hostility with humor and light-heartedness.
The play is scheduled for March 17 and 18. Protestors say they will be in front of the school on Thursday, March 18 at 5:45 p.m.
Westboro Church is the same group following Hurricane Katrina that said New Orleans was a cesspool of homosexuality. After the storm, church members held up signs that read, "Thank God for Katrina."
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