Anti-Hate Rally at VCU

Richmond, VA, USA - Hundreds (possibly over four-hundred) of Virginia Commonwealth University students and local activists gathered for an anti-hate rally in the VCU student commons plaza on Tuesday.

The rally was planned as a response to a protest tour of Richmond by the hate-mongering, homophobic, and anti-Semitic Westboro Baptist Church. The purpose of the rally was to promote tolerance and love of other people regardless of race, sex, religion or lack thereof, and sexual orientation.

The speakers and planners of the anti-hate rally included Rev. Jeanne Pupke of the First Unitarian Universalist Church, Jonathan Zur of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, VCU professor Renee Hill, and Jonathan Bridge of the Jewish fraternity of Alpha Epsilon Pi.

Several gay rights activists, communists, atheists and spiritual liberals took part in the rally. Both the rainbow flag and the communist flag were flown by anti-hate demonstrators. Others held signs saying "love is our resistance," "God hates morons," and "God hates Fred Phelps." There was even a man in a walrus suit.

The Westboro Baptist Church's tour of Richmond included the Virginia Holocaust Museum, Hermitage High School, and local Jewish community centers. Hermitage High School recently suffered the tragic suicide of one of its students. Needless to say, that school is going through tough times right now, but the Westboro Baptist Church protested there anyway. This shows tremendous indecency and a lack of morals on the part of the hate-mongers.

On an unrelated note, if you are interested in activist things at VCU then check out this blog: lalsalamvcu.blogspot.com