Dataset of the Day: Mapping Hate – The Westboro Baptist Church

While I hardly think that the immature and offensive behavior of the hate group that call themselves Westboro Baptist Church deserve public attention, the fact of the matter is that those who are targeted by them (grieving families for example) may have a hard time ignoring their harassment. That’s right, this group has managed to offend almost everyone in the country and around the world with the picketing they do at funerals, schools, ect. “The church’s web site… is deservedly listed as a hate site by many internet watchdog organizations. Its content is the verbal equivalent to what you would find in any other sewer.”
Now, reading some of their literature, it is hard to even take them seriously. Many of their statements seem like a bad Saturday Night Live skit. But on the other side, their messages of hate seem to have a uniting effect for everyone else.

Personally, I was inspired to write this blog by the reaction from my former High School for a planned protest from the WBC apparently because the school has a Diversity Club and a Gay Straight Alliance. Many from the school are planning on attending a counter-protest to defend their school, their diversity and hopefully just to poke a little fun and this hate group.

How to deal with groups like these in a culture of free speech is difficult. Some think that ignoring them and refusing to participate in a dialogue with them is the best approach. Many find that by simply making fun of their absurdity to the point that no one even takes them seriously will do the trick. Others believe that standing up against them through counter protest and speaking out against the hate that they preach is best.

Well, Im not sure what the answer is but for those who would like to attend the nearest picketing event to you, either to laugh at them or to speak out against them, or if you just want to avoid them, here is a map containing their upcoming protests. Just to demonstrate how Maker! can be a great community organizing tool!

Visit Maker! to view this map in more detaile.

Please note, all offensive language used for the events have been left in the dataset solely for the purpose of providing accurate information of their intentions.