At the beginning of the week, Westboro Baptist Church issued a press release with 16 dead soldiers listed on it, and said they "will picket their funerals in their home towns".  KISS-FM broke the story, and Amarillo and the rest of the TX Panhandle stepped up, and made plans to see to it that the picketers would not make things worse Genaro Bedoy's family and friends.  It's bad enough they have to lay Genaro to rest, the thought of them having to deal with protestors upset the vast majority of the community.

A question has been raised, will Westboro even come now that the whole city knows and intends on doing something about it?

I'm starting to think, no.  I have reason, if you look on Westboro's website, under press releases, while they have Amarillo and Genaro Bedoy listed on "WEEK 1109 OF THE GREAT
GAGE PARK DECENCY DRIVE", they don't have any other press release issued for where they will actually be?

Maybe they are trying to throw everyone off, or maybe they are actually not coming.  I guess only time will tell.

What has me puzzled is this.  It appears they actually issue an individual press release for each picket of each soldier, specifically stating exactly where they will be located, with a day and time as well.  That's something I'm not finding for Genaro Bedoy and Amarillo, TX.  Also, I've spoken with Brooke, a reporter for WTAMU and Student Media, and she told me that Westboro has actually done this before.  They've said they were coming to Amarillo, and never showed up.

So, at this point in time, I'm just confused.  I have no idea if Westboro is actually coming to Amarillo to protest.

 

I think they may have realized that they would have bitten off more than they could chew if they came here.  I applaud the entire metro population for stepping up to keep the Bedoy family out of reach of the intended protest.

Either way, if they do or don't come, there will be a gathering, a memorial to honor Genaro for paying the ultimate sacrifice.  We'll be there, and I hope to see you there as well!  Everyone is encouraged to bring an American Flag and also where yellow.

 

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