Westboro Baptist Protests Near Campus

An OU student holds a sign next to a woman affiliated with the Westboro Baptist Church during a protest near the OU campus Friday afternoon. Photo by Hailey Branson

More than a hundred OU students rallied against a handful of protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church, who came to picket the Hillel Jewish Student Center on the corner of Elm and Boyd Streets Friday afternoon.

The Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Kan., is an independent Baptist church known for holding provocative protests across the country against Judaism and homosexuality as well as protesting soldiers' funerals. The Norman picket was the first of four in Oklahoma against Jewish organizations and places of worship.

"I think it is ludicrous," said David Kiehn, music sophomore, while holding up a sign bearing the words "God Hates Shrimp." Kiehn stood with the largest group of students on Hillel grounds directly across the street from the Westboro protesters. Smaller student groups yelled from adjacent street corners.

Police monitored the protest, and three men on motorcycles circled the block, revving their engines to block out the noise. The Westboro protesters will hold their next picket at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Emanuel Synagogue in Oklahoma City, 900 NW 47th St.