Resource Center Dallas raised more than twice its goal and the Dallas Holocaust Museum set attendance records in response to a visit by the Fred Phelps clan.
The Phelps clan from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., began their tour of Dallas with a group of 17, half of them children, in downtown Dallas outside the Holocaust Museum. Every time they began to sing songs mocking the Holocaust, the counterprotesters and passing DART trains drowned them out.
Once the Phelps clan left for their next picket at the Jewish Community Center, most of the counterprotesters toured the museum. According to museum president and CEO Alice Murray, they set an attendance record.
Although Holocaust survivors were asked to stay home rather than be subjected to the Phelpses’ hatred, two came to deliver the message that they had lived through a lot worse than a few stupid signs. Survivor Max Glauben spoke to a standing-room-only audience about his war experiences. Survivor Mike Jacobs sold his book and walked through the exhibit chatting with visitors.
At the Jewish Community Center, counterprotesters blocked the view so children inside wouldn’t see the hate-filled signs. Yavneh Academy, another stop, was closed for the day. The Texas Jewish Post newspaper office, also picketed, is on the sixth floor of an office building set back from Beltline Road across a wide parking lot. The newspaper was not disturbed.
The Phelps clan’s final stop was Resource Center Dallas, where they were protesting Congregation Beth El Binah. The picketers were greeted by 350 counterprotesters. Most were carrying nonsensical signs to taunt the Phelps group.
Before the Phelps clan’s arrival, volunteers chalked the sidewalk across from the center in rainbow stripes and arranged with police that the rainbow-striped sidewalk would be the only place where the Phelpses would be allowed to stand.
Before the clan arrived, the Resource Center had already collected about $5,000 in donations from around the country for “Hell Freezes Over,” a counterprotest fundraiser. Despite a downpour, another $2,700 was raised during the 30 minutes the Phelps clan picketed. The fundraiser had a goal of $3,100 for a new ice maker for RCD’s nutrition program for low-income people with HIV/AIDS.
Rafael McDonnell of Resource Center Dallas said the brakes on the food pantry’s van had just gone out, so some of the additional money would be used for that repair. He joked that he hoped the Phelps clan would return soon.
Congregation Congregation Beth El Binah president Diane Litke said they’d an attendance record for a July Shabbat service and were delighted to have helped the center raise that much money.
Murray said the museum collected a number of donations and gained new memberships. But she said the day was really about promoting tolerance.
Wonderful job DALLAS VOICE/Mr. Taffet.
David – Thank You for the accurate complete reporting, great article.
If WBC ever comes back, we’ll call the counterprotest fundraiser “Hell Freezes Over 2: Back to the Hellmouth.”
“Abigail … like King David’s wife.” And how many wives did he have, Abigail?!?
WOW I’m so happy.This is one time I’d of rather have been in Dallas than San Francisco to protest a Bigot /Homophobe and fear monger-Good work and great reporting-wish I was there…
I wish the interviews weren’t only with religious people. I was at every counter-protest and the crowd was mostly secular each time.
I was amazed and disgusted at the same time at the average age of the protesters that were with WBC. most of them had to be twelve and under…Our 350 to their 8 was amazing in itself.. My favorite was an 87 year old woman holding a small neon green sign on a stick which said GOD IS LOVE… The Crowd was great, there were a few curse words tossed about but overall I was pleased to see how courteous and and respectful our community and it’s supporters were.. Kudos to Dallas for all of the organized groups that helped take part and will be all weekend long.. Our message surely went back to Kansas with them. You don’t mess with Texas and you sure don’t mess with the Texas Gay community and it supporters… nor our Jewish community…
Great reporting, great article, David Taffet.
Just beautiful . . . this whole event was handled so so well!
love the post! great article david and wonderful footage cindy!
Point of clarification… I thought we were across the street from the JCC, and WBC on the side of the street as the Center?
Thank you for focusing your post on the positive things that our community did this weekend.. Brilliant!! Great Job!