KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Students at Pembroke Hill High School stayed a little late on this Friday to demonstrate in support of their school. Followers of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church protested in front of Pembroke as classes dismissed for the weekend.
No specific reason was given by the church -- though they are known for their hate filled messages against gays. Fred Phelps website made references to the students’ pictures on the school’s website and called them “retarded rebels.”
The students protested peacefully in return, saying they didn’t want to give the church protestors too much credit.
"The school chose not to participate today, publicly,” explained student Kerry Levings. “But we all wore white today to unite together."The students and faculty also expected to raise and donate about $2,000 to the
Matthew Shepard Foundation.
Church members also protested in front of UMKC’S Performing Arts Center later in the day.
