Phelpses protest MLK speech

By Henry C. Jackson
Kansan staff writer

On a day celebrating diversity, protesters, led by two of Fred Phelps´ daughters, gathered outside the Lied Center yesterday to decry homosexuality and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.´s memory in their own way.

“We´re celebrating Martin Luther King,” said Elizabeth Phelps, Topeka resident and daughter of anti-gay rights activist Fred Phelps. “He was a righteous man. The fags have hijacked his freedom train.”

Elizabeth Phelps and about 15 others gathered outside the Lied Center yesterday as people arrived to attend Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremonies sponsored by the University and the Ecumenical Fellowship, Inc.

About 20 feet from protesters led by Phelps, about 25 people gathered to preach diversity and acceptance, presenting a stark contrast outside the Lied Center.

“We´re here because of Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Claudia Bode, project coordinator of biology. “This point of today is to celebrate his message, which was diversity and acceptance.”

Abigail Phelps, another daughter of Fred Phelps, said she disagreed with Bode and others from the group preaching diversity because she did not interpret King´s message as all-inclusive.

“He said `I have a dream that a man should be judged not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character,´” she said. “Being a fag means something is wrong with your character.” Abigail Phelps said she thought King would speak out against homosexuality if he were alive today.

“When he was alive fags, hadn´t taken over society,” she said. “He´d be protesting against them just like me if he were alive.”

Ron Schneider, a member of the Lawrence Jewish Community Center, delivered an Old Testament scripture reading at the Martin Luther King Day celebrations inside the Lied Center. He said he thought the protesters´ presence was fitting, despite what he called the “meanness, hate and cruelty” the their message.

“I think it´s appropriate that they´re out there today, because Martin Luther King Jr. so cherished the constitution and the first amendment,” Schneider said. “But with today´s theme — love is sharing, caring and working together — I hope these people who only know hate can learn.”

— Edited by Lindsay Hanson

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