Brooklyn Tech Unites against Westboro Baptist Church

Tech News — By Chiyeung Lau on September 27, 2009 at 12:31 pm

Reported by Rajib Debnath and Susmita Chakraborty
Editor: Chiyeung Lau

On the afternoon of September 24th, Hundreds of Tech students crowded up on the corners of Fulton Street and Fort Greene. They awaited for the arrival of the members of WBC-the Westboro Baptist Church, from Topeka, Kansas. The WBC came to
to protest against the school. The church’s Web site explained the reason for the protest:

“Yo what’s up, God haters?” the protest announcement stated. “Why you teach ‘It’s OK to be gay?’ WBC will be on hand to teach the rebels of Brooklyn what good looks like, and you had better behave.”

They came to attack the diversity and the inclusion of the gay and Jewish society in the Tech community.

However, Brooklyn Tech students were ready to protest as well. With signs on their hands, stickers on their faces, and determination in their souls, they stood face to face with the WBC protesters, who with rather disturbing signs regarding our president and the Jewish religion stood in front of Rocky’s Deli & Supermarket.

Tech security and enforcement officers tried their best to keep the students acting in an orderly fashion, as well as trying to keep the students from starting violent acts with the protesters.

Tech students however did not believe in violence and hate, the students believed in- unity. Francesca Tiliakos, a student of Tech, chants “Go back to Kansas!” along with the rest of her schoolmates who held hands and chanted ‘Brooklyn Tech’, the students were united as one.

BTHSnews asked many people around the area about their thoughts on WBC’s protest.
A local resident said “I am offended by their presence in our neighborhood, this is a diverse and inclusive community and we plan to keep it this way!”

Another man states his disbelief by stating, “I can NOT believe this is happening, I’m looking forward to taking them on!”

We came across Ron, a teacher in a local elementary school, who said “They are quoting the Bible on their signs, I don’t even think they ever read one.”

At last, at 3:45, after all the commotion, a bus was halted in the middle of the street so the protesters were able to scurry away without being seen. As the bus starts to move away, the Tech students started to cheer and scream for joy. This event had brought the students of Tech closer to each other. Students all stood on common ground, students all fought for what they believed and it made the entire community proud to be Technites.

This event proved to many that Tech, was indeed, a family, and that we stand by each other shoulder to shoulder through thick and thin.

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