Controversial rally permitted for Saturday

Saturday may be a controversial day for local residents, with protests and support rallies left and right.

The Jacksonville Police Department issued a public assembly permit Friday to members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., but that action concerned at least one person who went to Tuesday's Jacksonville City Council meeting to make his opinion known.
The primitive Baptist church, headed by Pastor Fred Phelps, is most known for protesting military funerals and anything it perceives as related to homosexuality. It has come to Jacksonville to protest the U.S. Marine Corps, which it says God hates, and issues involving the death of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach.

Scott Peters, a Jacksonville resident, sent out a press release early Tuesday to encourage people to attend the meeting and share their concerns and disapproval of the permit and to offer alternatives. But he appeared to be alone in the audience.

He said during his presentation to the council that it should look at the impact the protesters will have on the community, and it should make people aware of appropriate conduct recommended for onlookers.

Peters also said during the public comment period of the meeting that the area given to the church to protest is not a good area because it could interfere with many city ordinances.
"I am not asking for (the council) to disallow the event," Peters said. "I just want to move the protest to another area where it won't interfere with Jacksonville's daily lives ... like a park."

Kristoff Bauer, Jacksonville's city manager, said the city is prepared for the church group to come and that people should be cautious around them.

Bauer said he agrees with the statement from Col. Adele Hodges when she urged all Marines and sailors to stay away from the demonstration by the church group.

Peters, however, said the city should make sure it has a plan to deal with any Marines that may become enraged by the protest.

"What Col. Hodges said was just a suggestion, not an order," he said. "(The city) needs to be prepared."

Councilman Jerome Willingham said that the group's coming to protest is "troubling and disheartening" and that it is a shame that the church doesn't share the universal courtesy for dignity of loss of life as most of society does.

"We do, however, have to remember that we just celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and at times what he was saying was not welcome," he said. "We must allow the appreciation of the Constitution, even if we don't agree with their message."

Mayor Sammy Phillips said the Constitution does allow people to speak and assemble and he would fight for that right; however, he is a big supporter of the military and is excited about the support for troops rally being held at the same time.

In response to the church's coming to Jacksonville, Chrissy Speelman, 31, Mandie Benson, 26, and Nikki Stahl, 29, all of Jacksonville, organized a Support our Troops rally the same day to offer an alternative.

"(Jacksonville) is our home and we want to do something great," Speelman said.
Stahl said she wants Marines and veterans alike to know that Jacksonville is their city and they are welcome and supported.

The church plans to meet from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Hargett Street and Lejeune Boulevard.

The Support our Troops rally is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Jacksonville Commons Park.
In addition, the Gathering of Eagles is holding an Operation Celebration of American Military rally from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 2025 N. Marine Blvd. in Jacksonville.

Contact Heather Gale at hgale@freedomenc.com or 910-353-1171, ext. 8464.