For two hours Saturday, Ohio University students anxiously awaited the arrival of protesters responding to OU's production of the Laramie Project. Despite their preparation, the protesters never showed, but the students still used the opportunity to convey their message.
Protesters were purported to be on campus to protest the play, which is based on interviews with residents of the Wyoming town in which gay student Matthew Shepard was killed in 1998. OU students arrived at Kantner Hall as early as 6:30 p.m. for the 8 p.m. performance in an effort to counteract the expected protest with their own demonstration.
It's about protecting other human beings and their right to express themselves and be who they want to be
said OU sophomore Janiene Torch.
Swarm of Dykes, in conjunction with Positive Action, planned a silent protest in which participants would wear black outfits adorned with only a single rainbow ribbon, said Sarah Liddle, an OU freshman known as C., and a member of Swarm of Dykes.
We have the right to protest but we're not going to sink to their level Liddle said.
After the protesters did not show up, the event turned into a spontaneous candlelit vigil to show solidarity and commemorate victims of hate crimes, said Swarm of Dykes President Megan Snow, an OU sophomore.
I really would have expected them to be here
Snow said. I'm pretty angry
and that's why we organized this. It really infuriates me that they would come and try to destroy something so wonderful.
The group that planned the original protest, the Westboro Baptist Church, sent news releases announcing the protest to several campus organizations and also promoted it on their Web site. Megan Phelps-Roper, a church spokeswoman, said the group did not come to Athens because it was already protesting in too many locations and did not have enough participants to send to Athens. She said the group would be protesting in Ohio at some point but did not say if they would be in Athens.
Coming out is scary enough without people like that screaming in your face
Liddle said. The first time I found their Web site I was a freshman in high school and it made me cry.
OU junior Ashley Goehring, a Laramie Project cast member, said that, although the protesters might have attracted publicity for the show, it was still better that they did not appear.
Their sole motivation is just to cause controversy. If it sells tickets
good for us
but I don't want them here
she said.
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