COMMENTARY | As Joplin, Mo., recovers from a devastating blow from an EF5 tornado, residents are beginning to pick up the pieces. Search and rescue efforts are gradually turning to recovery as emergency vehicles are leaving town and volunteers are finishing their work.
A memorial service is planned for Sunday, May 29, at 1 p.m., the same day President Obama is scheduled to visit the city. An unwelcome group may also be coming to Joplin this weekend.
Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., has a press release on its website stating they will show up and protest on Sunday. At the same time, a counter protest is also being organized on the Facebook page called "Counter Protest Westboro Coming to Joplin."
Yes, the same Westboro Baptist Church that has made national news for protesting military funerals is heading to Joplin. Topeka is about three hours away, an easy drive for anyone in the Phelps family.
However, logistics may limit the ability of the church to do anything in Joplin. The damaged areas are still under lockdown. Residents and property owners, as well as emergency workers, are the only ones allowed in the destruction zone. Westboro certainly won't get anywhere close to damaged areas. They won't get near shelters, as homeless and injured people need to rest and recover.
Obama will likely tour the damaged areas. Where he will meet with residents has yet to be determined, as is his arrival time. Hopefully Obama will speak at the memorial service at 1 p.m. to offer hope and inspiration. If he stays in the damaged area, Westboro won't even get close to the president.
The counter protest to parlay the church protesters so far states they will form up at 10:30 a.m. at North Park Mall. Over 6,600 people have "liked" the page on Facebook. Some people are coming from as far away as Illinois.
Joplin is a town badly hurting. If anyone comes all the way from out of town to counter Westboro's presence, I also urge them to volunteer a few hours at a shelter if they are able to help out. It shows WBC the true meaning of being a member of a spiritual community by spreading love and compassion instead of hate and vitriol.
Westboro has no business being in Joplin. If it is like any other threatened protest: All Phelps and his followers want is to get extra attention by even releasing information about their protest schedule.
William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics. Born in St. Louis, Browning is active in local politics and served as a campaign volunteer for President Barack Obama and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.
