Robin Williams News 2014: Westboro Baptist Church Announces Plans to Protest at Late Star's Funeral
In order to combat the hate-mongering propagated by the Westboro Baptist Church, a nonprofit group is raising funds to help children with cancer in honor of the late Robin Williams.
Once it was revealed that the iconic comedian was found dead on Aug. 11, the infamous WBC announced their plans to picket his funeral. The hate group, which is known for its notorious "God Hates Fags" campaign and for picketing the funerals of fallen soldiers, defamed Williams as a "fag pimp" because he played a gay man in "The Birdcage" and a cross-dresser in "Mrs. Doubtfire."
In response, Planting Peace, a nonprofit which owns the Equality House purposely built stationed across the street from the WBC in Kansas, launched a campaign to raise $30,000 on behalf of St. Jude's Hospital Research Hospital, which Williams passionately supported for years, reports the Washington Post.
As of Thursday, Planting Peace almost doubled their fundraising goal, raising $59,745 through Crowdrise.
The group, which says that their "purpose is to spread peace in a hurting world," also released a statement about the campaign, saying:
"Our neighbors at the Westboro Baptist Church have announced their intention to protest the funeral of Robin Williams. In keeping with our philosophy of addressing acts of hate and intolerance with compassion and love, we are inviting the public to show their respect and support of a man who spent his life making others smile, who was always there for others in their time of need, and who supported the greater good through works of service and charity."
In an interview with the Huffington Post, Planting Peace co-founder Aaron Jackson explained that they decided to start "Remembering Robin: A Benefit for St. Jude" in order to drown out the WBC's hateful words.
"We felt like launching a fundraiser for a charity Robin loved would be the perfect way to honor him and counteract the message of hate and intolerance that the Westboro Baptist Church continues to convey. Robin Williams played many different roles in so many people's lives, and giving back to others was at the top of that list. His appeal crossed generational boundaries. I was personally impacted when I heard of his passing. This is a small gesture to honor his legacy and the difference he made to so many."
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