Norfolk, Va. - If the goal of the Westboro Baptist Church was to convince Norfolk high school students to join its cause, the message fell on deaf ears.
"I think it's wrong, God loves everybody and I think it's wrong that they are doing it," said Kwain Manley, Granby High School student.
India Lynch, another Granby High School student, added, "It's horrible that people think like that."
The Kansas-based church is known for spreading its anti-gay message by protesting near the funerals of military men and women. One of the church's leaders, Timothy Phelps, says today's counter-protests won't stop his followers.
"We do preach God's hate unabashedly. Someone has to warn this nation that her destruction is immenent, God hates this nation and someone has to say it, otherwise its blood is on our hands," Phelps said.
While Granby students say they did not want the protesters outside of their school, they say they are happy so many people showed up to the counter-protest. The ratio of Granby students to WBC protestors was about 20:1.
"It's crazy. I mean, why be out here protesting crazy stuff against people who have the rights to do what ever they want?" asked one high school student.
Gay rights activists like Jordan Grey and Phillip Deal say they are happy so many showed their support. For years they felt alone in their pursuit of gay rights. They said today it was nice to have so many people behind them.
"I was shocked, look how many people are out here for us look how many people are out here for them and these are high school kids backing us up," Deal said.
Norfolk school officials and Norfolk police had an increased presence outside the schools today, but the protestors on both sides were peaceful. The church will be outside Landstown High School in Virginia Beach Tuesday morning and at the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Killin Dunn. He was killed in action in Afghanistan on February 18.
"I think it's wrong, God loves everybody and I think it's wrong that they are doing it," said Kwain Manley, Granby High School student.
India Lynch, another Granby High School student, added, "It's horrible that people think like that."
The Kansas-based church is known for spreading its anti-gay message by protesting near the funerals of military men and women. One of the church's leaders, Timothy Phelps, says today's counter-protests won't stop his followers.
"We do preach God's hate unabashedly. Someone has to warn this nation that her destruction is immenent, God hates this nation and someone has to say it, otherwise its blood is on our hands," Phelps said.
While Granby students say they did not want the protesters outside of their school, they say they are happy so many people showed up to the counter-protest. The ratio of Granby students to WBC protestors was about 20:1.
"It's crazy. I mean, why be out here protesting crazy stuff against people who have the rights to do what ever they want?" asked one high school student.
Gay rights activists like Jordan Grey and Phillip Deal say they are happy so many showed their support. For years they felt alone in their pursuit of gay rights. They said today it was nice to have so many people behind them.
"I was shocked, look how many people are out here for us look how many people are out here for them and these are high school kids backing us up," Deal said.
Norfolk school officials and Norfolk police had an increased presence outside the schools today, but the protestors on both sides were peaceful. The church will be outside Landstown High School in Virginia Beach Tuesday morning and at the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Killin Dunn. He was killed in action in Afghanistan on February 18.
