2/20/2022

Kansas City, Missouri, concertgoers confused by Topeka-based church's protest at event

By Melody Cook

“God hates you” and “Let brotherly love continue” were just some of the contradictory messages a small but prominent group of inflammatory evangelists professed on bright, colorful signs Friday. Across the street, thousands of people shuffled into a Kansas City venue to enjoy a country music concert. The protest didn't seem to garner the same level of attention as some of the protesters' past demonstrations.

Though Westboro Baptist Church stood conspicuously in front of the arena, some concertgoers were unsure why the group was protesting or even what the group was.

Westboro gained notoriety in 2011 when the Supreme Court ruled the group's protesting at military funerals was constitutional. The church based in Topeka, Kansas, preaches that God kills soldiers because of America’s “wickedness.” Westboro protests a wide variety of events. In January, it picketed in Missouri at Blue Springs High School because of the school’s decision to accommodate a transgender student. This weekend, its target was a concert by singer-songwriter Eric Church at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

One crowd member, Natalie Giles, casually lit a cigarette in front of the protesters and scoffed at their signs. She said even the church’s members didn’t have a consensus on their purpose at the concert.

Giles said, “I asked one of them, ‘What are you protesting?’ He said, ‘Nothing. These are just bible verses.’”

“I don’t understand their protests in general or the events they choose to show up to,” said concertgoer Sarah White.

Church sings several songs about Christianity including “Sinners Like Me” and “Country Music Jesus.” Westboro called these songs “blasphemous” and labeled the musician a “lukewarm Christian.”

In a press release, Westboro said God allowed the singer to gain fame for the purpose of spreading the gospel. But, it said, “He has turned the truth of God into lasciviousness for filthy lucre’s sake,” using a word for “riches” from the New Testament Book of Titus.

“We are happy to tell you the truth of God. He is not, so we will,” the group said about Church in its press release.

Another concertgoer, Ryan Hutcherson, couldn't recall the group's name, but said he recognized it from its protests at military funerals. He said the group was driven by hatred.

“I’m a veteran and I’m a Christian.” he said, “It’s not spreading the gospel; It’s spreading hate.”

Hutcherson’s friend, Blake Johnson, said he wants WBC to remember who protects its right to protest.

He stood next to the young veteran and said, “This is my best friend. He has fought for your right, my right and everybody behind us and in front of us.”

In response to WBC’s claim that Church is not a true Christian, Hutcherson said, “He can be a Christian and still raise hell.”