The Topeka, Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church will be protesting in Casey this Sunday. The church notified Casey Police that they will hold “peaceful & non-violent protests” at three Casey churches during their services on Sunday morning.
The Westboro Baptist Church is an unaffiliated Baptist church. They have been categorized as a hate group and are monitored by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The group is known for protesting the funerals of US Servicemen and women. They also commonly display signs with homophobic and anti-semitic language.
According to Casey Police, protests will take place from 9:00 – 9:30am at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, from 9:30 – 10:00am at Casey First Baptist Church, and from 10:00 – 10:30am at Casey United Methodist Church.
Casey Chief of Police Mark Jenkins said his department has been in contact with administration of the chosen churches and have reached out to the WBC to discuss issues and concerns prior to their arrival. He said that he feels confident that they will hold true to their word that they will be non-violent and “just want to get their message out.”
Jenkins said further to “be aware they always travel with photographers and videographers so I ask that everyone politely ignore these people and go in and out of your place of worship and let them do their thing and leave our community, making their visit to Casey extremely uneventful.”