For Roosevelt High School senior Mairany Cordova, the crowd of people who showed up to counter-demonstrate against Westboro Baptist Church's protesters meant students had the support of a 'strong community' to fight against hate. 'We're all uniting as one, as a community, especially such a small, little place, and everybody coming together and showing that they (Westboro Baptist Church) can't take control of us,' said Cordova, 17, who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
'We want to show the kids that there is love around them, and besides all of the ugly messaging that's trying to be thrust at them, that they are supported, that they're loved, and there's place for them to be themselves,' said Valeria Rodriguez coordinator for Fresno EOC LGBTQ Resource Center.
The crowd of supporters from Fresno's LGBTQ+ community peacefully demonstrated at the corner of Tulare Street and Cedar Avenue to counter the presence of a small group of Westboro Baptist Church protesters. Many said they were there to protect Roosevelt students from the church's hateful message.
Shirley Phelps-Roper of the Westboro Baptist Church, along with two others, traveled from Topeka, Kansas, to Fresno to express their belief that the nation's rejection of God's commandments and standards is causing the nation's destruction.
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