Westboro Protest Won't Stop Oak Creek Church's Celebration

The is not letting a planned protest by the infamous Westboro Baptist Church get in the way of its plans.

The church will hold its long-planned special event, "," at both its 8 and 10:30 a.m. services Sunday. The musical involves the whole congregation and pays tribute to veterans, just a few days before the Fourth of July.

The Westboro protest, planned to take place , won't deter the celebration, said media relations director Christine Jacobs.

In fact, the timing is a little ironic.

"We're going to celebrate the freedom we have in our nation," Jacobs said. "Because of our freedom, they have right to express their views."

Jacobs said the church was a little surprised to find out about Westboro's plans — after all, how many churches get picketed?

But in other ways, they weren't surprised, given the group's history. Westboro is nationally known for picketing military funerals with anti-gay messages, as it believes that military deaths are God's punishment for homosexuality in the United States.

"We know this group pickets military funerals," she said. "So, in that respect, we weren't surprised."

Jacobs noted the other churches on Westboro's Sunday schedule are some of the larger ones of their dominations in the area — Hales Corners Lutheran, Elmbrook and Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist were among the churches on the list.

Likewise, Assembly of God is one of the biggest Pentecostal churches in the Milwaukee area, giving Westboro a bigger audience and potentially more attention.

The Westboro church said on its website it plans to picket Assembly of God, 7311 S. 13th St., from 10:10 to 10:30 a.m. 

"WBC will picket the Oak Creek Assembly of God Church in religious protest and warning," according to the website. "WBC will remind the false prophets and parishioners that God is not mocked, America has turned her back on God's law due to the teachings of false prophets."

In the hours after word got out about Westboro's plans, a Facebook page sprung up to mobilize a peaceful counter protest at the churches Westboro plans to picket.

Jacobs said Assembly of God is not involved with any counter rallies and won't do much in the way of addressing the protest.

The , however, will be on hand to monitor activity, police Capt. Michael Bolender said.

The department has spoken to representatives from the Westboro and the Assembly of God and "discussed ground rules that will provide a safe environment and ensure all involved rights are protected," Bolender said.