The Westboro Baptist Church thought Moore, Oklahoma would be a good place to spread their messages of hate yesterday, but they were wrong. Residents of the town ravaged by a violent 210 MPH tornado that took the lives of 24 people including nine children, and injured 377 others were not about to stand idly by as the “God Hates Fags” group protested in the small town.
In 2013, after the deadly tornado — the second in 15 years — the Westboro Baptist Church called the death and destruction in Moore a “gift for a rebel nation.” They also blamed the tornado and its deadly results on NBA center Jason Collins‘ coming out.
Shortly thereafter, the WBC actually came to Moore to picket the funeral of a nine-year old boy killed by the tornado.
Fortunately, the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of bikers who actively watch the Westboro Baptist Church and defend citizens from their protests, rode in to town last year and set up a blockade, effectively barring the WBC from having its protest be seen.
This year, 2000 citizens and bikers were on hand. News reports state the Westboro Baptist Church members set up their protest but left after less than 10 minutes. This KFOR video shows they hightailed out of town in a hurry: