On Jan. 12, the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) made its way to Glendale with a stop at Louise Avenue. They came in a group of about 15 people and also had children within the picketing group. Their songs about disobeying God and punishment could be heard from the opposite end of the street.

Amongst the hundreds present to counter their protest were approximately nine Clark students.

The WBC is a church organization that condemns homosexuality and is well-known for their racist slander. Additionally, they are well known for their hateful messages towards all who disagree with their ideologies.

Senior Pierre Simonian was among the people observing the scene. Simonian said “They’re just so hateful, I couldn’t believe this was coming from a ‘church.’” He also added that they would be picketing other places in SoCal as well. “They’re going to El Segundo High School next; I would go and see what’s up there but it’s too far.”

The “Baptists,” as some would call them, were clad with apparel and accessories that advertised their radical beliefs. The Westboro Baptist Church’s beliefs can be summed up in one phrase, said by their very own Shirley Phelps-Roper: “Shut up and obey!”

Phelps-Roper was covered in the church’s anti-gay slogans and held multiple signs, all directly connected to her belief that the Bible condemns homosexuality directly. When approached with the idea of gay people as accepted, she simply yelled, “God makes no mistakes, I curse your friends who do not obey.” In essence, Phelps-Roper assured the listeners that being homosexual is a choice.

Senior Allen Dishigrikyan was also present at the event, representing the population who disagrees heartily with their hateful protest. “Although Westboro can seem intimidating for discouraging any and all civil discourse, it was empowering to witness hundreds of Glendale’s citizens united against the bigoted teachings of this particular interpretation of the Bible,” Dishigrikyan said. “For believers in Jesus Christ, they sure do a great job of ignoring the principal message of ‘Love thy neighbor.’”