The College Fix

Four picketers from the notorious Westboro Baptist Church protested across the street from the Hebrew Union College yesterday.

The protesters from the Topeka, Kan., church, infamous for its slogan “God Hates Fags,” sang songs and held posters denouncing Jews, homosexuals, Obama and others.

Their posters conveyed messages such as “Thank God for Sept. 11” and “God hates Israel.” One sign compared President Obama to a “beast.”

Across the street, a passionate opposition formed to counterprotest the Westboro Baptist Church picketers.

Authorities confined the church picketers to a small, gated area. A fifth church member appeared in a red minivan 30 minutes later to pick up the protesters and presumably leave for the next picketing location.

For the last protest of the day, the picketers moved to the Tribeca Rooftop, which was hosting the 30th Annual PFLAG Awards.

Hebrew Union College dean Rabbi Shirley Idelson said she was unsure what group the picketers were demonstrating against.

“If you look at the five different organizations that they’re picketing, four are Jewish, so it would seem like maybe that’s part of it,” she said.

Westboro Baptist Church members has already protested in Brooklyn at the Chabad of Kensington, the Yeshiva & Mesivta Torah Temimah and the Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin before arriving at the college.

Idelson added that the college is committed to supporting LGBT rights. Students from the college are holding a fundraiser this week for the “Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network,” she said.

Read the full story at the Washington Square News.

Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter