For Immediate Release March 6, 2002
AVP to Monitor Phelps’ Targeted Sites
New York – Representatives from the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) announced that they will provide safety monitors at the three New York City sites targeted by the Reverend Fred Phelps, a right-wing religious figure, pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church in Westboro, Kansas, and proprietor of ‘godhatesfags.com.’ Phelps’ notoriety expanded greatly beyond his hometown when he and his followers staged protests at memorial services for Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. The protests included placards with statements such as, “Mathew Shepard Burns in Hell.” Phelps was last in New York in September 2000 to protest the placement of the Stonewall Inn on the National Register of Historic Places.
According to his website, Phelps plans to protest at three sites Saturday, March 9: Fire Department of New York (FDNY) headquarters in Brooklyn, the New York Underground Film Festival (NYUFF) and in front of HBO headquarters. He’s aiming his ire at the FDNY because he’s identified the Department as “shameless,” “money-grubbing” and “riddled with filthy fags and dykes.” FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge, who was killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks was singled out in a flyer announcing the protest. NYUFF is apparently being targeted for a movie submitted to, but not accepted at the Festival: “Fred, The Movie,” a documentary about Phelps. Finally, Phelps has chosen HBO because they are airing a movie about the Matthew Shepard murder and its after-effects on Laramie.
“Once again, we’re not certain that Phelps and his klan will actually show up this Saturday,” said Clarence Patton, AVP’s Director of Community Organizing and Public Advocacy. “We had the same doubts prior to their Stonewall protest, but surprisingly they showed up, though they didn’t stay very long,” continued Patton.
“As for a community response to Phelps, I think that Ed Halter at the film festival had the best strategy – basically, this pig is coming to town to goad the Fire Department, Queer People, and HBO specifically and New Yorkers in general. He and his people will have signage that almost anyone would find repulsive. There are basically three options for dealing with such hatefulness: we could chase them around the city yelling at them and giving them the response they want; stand in silent protest; or ignore them. I think that if we see him this Saturday, we should see him for the pathetic joke that he is, laugh and simply go on with our day,” said Patton. “AVP staff will be on-hand to monitor the situation at each planned protest site, but we are not organizing any counter-demonstration to any of Phelps’ activities,” concluded Patton.
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