Westboro Baptist Church Protesters Are a No Show in St. Peters

In darkness and dense fog early Monday morning, nearly 500 counter protesters gathered in front of Fort Zumwalt East High School in St. Peters, Mo., carrying signs in support of lesbian, gay, transgendered, and bisexual students and anticipating the arrival of protesters from Westboro Baptist Church.

Westboro Baptist Church was a no-show at Fort Zumwalt East High School, despite having announced the protest on their website with a press release dated Thursday, Feb. 2, claiming that Fort Zumwalt East High School was "fag-infested" and "pervert-run." A handful of Westboro protesters did show at another St. Louis area high school on Monday morning.

Westboro claimed that student's had requested their presence at Fort Zumwalt East. However, Miranda "Crouton" Alexander, an FZE student and counter protester doubts that is true.

"I think they twisted it around, like they do everything," Alexander said. "A student may have said that Fort Zumwalt has gay students."

Alexander added that FZE has a good atmosphere for all students. Alexander, in rainbow colored make-up and clothing carried a sign that read, "I Bet Hell is Fabulous."

"I love what we're doing here as students, standing up to WBC. It's not about being gay, it is about being human," Alexander added.

Amy Schnuriger, an elementary school teacher in the Fort Zumwalt district, participated in the counter protest with her daughter.

"I teach my kids to stand up to bullies," said Schnuriger who identifies as a Christian. "For me religion has nothing to do with this. This is the fundamental right of people to live their life without being harassed."

Schnuriger congratulated one of her former students as he passed out equal sign stickers throughout the crowd promoting the Human Rights Campaign. The back of the sticker claims that that by placing this sticker where others can see it, or giving it to a friend, you help spread the message of equality for all.

Grandmother Pat Kumar proudly held a sign above her head that read "Jesus loves you and me and gays and straights and soldiers and civilians."

The Westboro Baptist Church is widely known for protesting at the funerals of fallen soldiers, claiming that military deaths are the result of Americans allowing rights to homosexuals. Their website contains many references to hate, whores, and perverts.

In contrast, the FZE counter protesters were positive and upbeat. School officials lined the perimeter of the school property, while less than 10 local police officers controlled the traffic entering the school parking lot. Protesters were eager to burst into cheers at the request of a local television reporter, and a young man with a bullhorn lead the crowd in an impromptu wave. A man dressed as Jesus carried a sign that claimed he had two dads.

Military supporters were also present, having placed a series of signs claiming, "I fully disapprove of what they say. But I will defend till death. Their right to say it."

Counter Protesters in St. Peters burst into a short rendition of Queen's "We are the Champions" before dispersing at 7:30 a.m. Some got into their cars and headed toward Clayton where that protest was scheduled to begin at 7:50 a.m.

Local NBC affiliate KSDK reported that hundreds of counter protesters at Clayton High School peacefully faced off with only a handful of Westboro Baptist Church protesters. Local police kept both groups several yards apart. The well-organized effort was coordinated by the high school's Gay-Straight Alliance, who requested on the school's website that all protester's signs show support for the CHS community and reflect the positive, peaceful and appropriate response planned to Westboro's protest.

St. Louis Native, Clayton High School alum and Bravo TV executive Andy Cohen, announced the Clayton High School protest on his late night television program "Watch What Happens Live" on Thursday evening. Cohen, who is gay, told the students of the Gay-Straight Alliance at his alma mater to stay strong against the Westboro Baptist Church, while awarding the church his "Jackhole of the Week" award.

Cohen's television career has earned him both Emmy and Peabody Awards, but may be most widely recognized as the host of the reunion episodes of the Real Housewives franchise. Cohen commonly refers to his hometown of St. Louis on his late night talk show that airs five nights per week on Bravo.