SACRAMENTO -
Severe weather conditions in Kansas prompted the cancellation of a handful of demonstrations by the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church planned for several local venues today.
The website SacBee.com reports law enforcement have been in contact with the church over the past few days and are still available in case the demonstrators change their minds.
The Westboro Baptist Church, led by the Reverend Fred Phelps, had planned on demonstrating in front of various Jewish places of worship, two local high schools, the campus of UC Davis and the production of the Broadway musical "Rent" on Friday and Saturday.
The church is controversial for their anti-gay, anti-semetic demonstrations of the funerals of individuals who pass away from HIV and AIDS, as well as those who are enrolled in the military killed in action overseas.
Leaders within the Jewish and GLBT communities in Sacramento had asked supporters not to comment to the media on the group's planned demonstrations. Several community leaders told FOX40 News they had no plans on organizing a counter-demonstration and that the group's now-canceled presence in Sacramento would be ignored by supporters.
Student at McClatchy High School, one of the two high schools the Westboro Baptist Church had planned on protesting, held a meeting on tolerance during school hours Friday afternoon. Several students from McClatchy High had planned a counter-demonstration to the Westboro Baptist Church protests during the group's scheduled appearance after 3:00pm.
According to an e-mail sent by Director Gail Mancarti, the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center is still holding a youth-geared discussion Friday evening from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the center's L Street location to discuss the Westboro Church's activities.
It's unclear if the church is still planning to demonstrate Saturday, as the SacBee.com report only mentions canceled plans for Friday afternoon.
The website SacBee.com reports law enforcement have been in contact with the church over the past few days and are still available in case the demonstrators change their minds.
The Westboro Baptist Church, led by the Reverend Fred Phelps, had planned on demonstrating in front of various Jewish places of worship, two local high schools, the campus of UC Davis and the production of the Broadway musical "Rent" on Friday and Saturday.
The church is controversial for their anti-gay, anti-semetic demonstrations of the funerals of individuals who pass away from HIV and AIDS, as well as those who are enrolled in the military killed in action overseas.
Leaders within the Jewish and GLBT communities in Sacramento had asked supporters not to comment to the media on the group's planned demonstrations. Several community leaders told FOX40 News they had no plans on organizing a counter-demonstration and that the group's now-canceled presence in Sacramento would be ignored by supporters.
Student at McClatchy High School, one of the two high schools the Westboro Baptist Church had planned on protesting, held a meeting on tolerance during school hours Friday afternoon. Several students from McClatchy High had planned a counter-demonstration to the Westboro Baptist Church protests during the group's scheduled appearance after 3:00pm.
According to an e-mail sent by Director Gail Mancarti, the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center is still holding a youth-geared discussion Friday evening from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the center's L Street location to discuss the Westboro Church's activities.
It's unclear if the church is still planning to demonstrate Saturday, as the SacBee.com report only mentions canceled plans for Friday afternoon.
