Re: Fred Phelps Information

["Sue Hovey" <suehovey@moscow.com>]

I would do that--who is taking pledges.

Sue
----- Original Message -----
From: <DonaldH675@aol.com>
To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2002 9:04 AM
Subject: Fred Phelps Information


> Melynda here again, this time wearing my professional bonnet--
>
> Some of you may know that my day job is Director of WSU's Gay, Lesbian,
> Bisexual, and Allies Program.  Fred Phelps is no stranger to anyone who
does
> advocacy work in higher education, and we've built up a profile with
> important information.
>
> 1.   It's pretty unlikely that he'll come.  He does a booming business in
> press releases, hoping for lots of local publicity and media coverage, but
> he's not rich enough to get his "family" everywhere he threatens to go.
That
> doesn't mean we shouldn't prepare--fully--for his arrival, but don't lose
any
> sleep over it.
>
> 2.  Phelp's money comes mainly from lawsuits--the whole family are
lawyers.
> S.O.P. is to sue the university for failing to provide a venue, or the
right
> venue, and then to sue anyone foolish enough to get within arm's reach for
> assault.  If you've got to get a look at him, for goodness sake stay far
> away.  Don't shake hands, don't offer them a drink of water, don't let
your
> temper get the better of you.  It's best if the campus can muster a solid
> police presence to ensure that no agent provocateur from the Phelps clan
gets
> out into the crowd and then falls down hollering that somebody hit her.
>
> 3.  The most effective preventative measure appears to be a local
fundraiser
> in which citizens pledge money to a local gay rights organization in
direct
> proportion to the length of Fred's demonstration.   You know, $1 for every
> minute they picket, or some such amount.  Our local Pride Foundation might
be
> a good beneficiary.  Then if Phelps does arrive, we make sure he knows
just
> how much money he's raising for local scholarships or other projects,
minute
> by minute.   It's worked in other communities (and of course, if he
doesn't
> show, people may still donate!)
>
> Best,
>
> Melynda Huskey
>