Here’s How Orlando Responded When The Westboro Church Crashed A Victim’s Funeral

by The Gaily Grind Staff

As the first of many funerals began in Orlando this week, the hate group Westboro Baptist Church threatened to protest the victims’ funerals as their grieving families gathered to mourn their loved ones.

As promised, at least 6 members of the Kansas-based hate group showed up in Orlando Sunday morning, but their hate was met with thousands of Orlando residents who formed a human wall of love to shield the families of the victims from their hate.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater members joined efforts to keep the protesters from disrupting the funerals of those killed at gay nightclub Pulse. They spent the last few days using the theater’s costume shop to build 11 sets of “angel wings.”

“Volunteers will be wearing these large, white angel wings to show their support, proclaim love, and block the view of mourners from potential protesters,” said artistic director Jim Helsinger.

“Our focus is to bring forth a message of peace and love. Hatred is running rampant through our everyday lives. But as a group, we choose to lift ourselves above that hatred. We feel as so many others do, that love and compassion for our community and our humanity are the answers that so many people are desperately searching for.” -Gaily Grind