JOPLIN, Mo. —
Some came simply to show support for tornado-ravaged Joplin. Some came to counter an expected protest from an extremist group that never showed up.
Regardless, thousands massed along north Range Line Road on Sunday waving flags and holding signs in a show of solidarity as Joplin prepared for its memorial service. The rally turned out to be largely celebratory, although police did have to temporarily detain one man for his own safety after some in the crowd started to pursue him.
RALLY ORGANIZER
Charlie Brown, the rally’s organizer, said the event was not political and would have taken place whether President Barack Obama came to Joplin or whether the Westboro Baptist Church, which claimed Joplin had been singled out for punishment by God, had shown up.
Brown said the theme of the event was threefold: honor, respect and remembrance. Brown began the grass-roots movement on Facebook. His page received 5,000 responses in its first three hours, and 10,000 responses in the first 24 hours.
Many in the crowd said they came primarily to counter the message they expected to hear from Westboro. Although the Topeka, Kan.- based group announced it would stage its own protest, local authorities said no member of the group showed up.
Jamie and Everett Stuckey traveled from Fort Scott, Kan., to show their support for the community of Joplin. Like many, they found out about the rally on Facebook.
“Joplin is where I grew up,” Jamie Stuckey said. “It’s the town I love. I want to tell (Westboro) that natural disasters don’t mean God (smote) Joplin. If you want proof of his blessing, just look at the thousands of volunteers who came here to help.”
Caesar Huang and Steve Chiu were taking a smoke break from their work and watching the rally outside Tokyo Steak and Sushi. Both men are immigrants from Taiwan. Huang lost his home in the storm and his family has been staying with Chiu. Both men were affected by the outpouring of support from the community.
“I almost cried,” Chiu said. “I don’t want to work (today). I want to join them.”
Hundreds of motorcyclists attended the rally, led by members of the Patriot Guard. The organization often attends the funerals of American military personnel in an attempt to nullify the protests of Westboro members. The group uses the noise of their engines to drown out the voices of the protesters.
Steve Cantrell, of Carl Junction, is a member of the Patriot Guard and said the level of support for the people of Joplin was touching.
“It just gives you a lump in your throat,” he said. “It shows that there are a multitude more thinking and honest people that don’t hide behind petty platforms and religion.”
Cantrell said he respects the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment, but he doesn’t think the memorial service was an appropriate time and place for the Westboro members to express their opinions.
SINGLE DISTURBANCE
Although the Westboro group didn’t show, one man created a disturbance when he began preaching and protesting outside the designated protest zone.
Some bystanders said the man was from Northwest Arkansas and not affiliated with the Westboro group. The man was shepherded into the designated protest zone, which had been cordoned off by authorities for the Westboro group.
After crossing Newman Road, the man was pursued by members of the crowd that had gathered in a parking lot. Several Kansas City, Mo., police officers stepped in and ushered the man to safety. Joplin police Lt. Brian Lewis said mace may have been deployed to help control the crowd, although efforts to ascertain whether it was through local authorities were unsuccessful Sunday night, as were efforts to verify the man’s identity and motive.
The man was briefly detained, taken to his vehicle and escorted by Jasper County deputies to the county line, where he was then escorted by Newton County deputies to the McDonald County line. No other disturbances were reported.
Local News
Westboro members not present at service
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