Westboro Baptist Church Targets John Lewis

By Warren Rojas

Posted October 14, 2015 at 5:56pm

The provocateurs that make up the Westboro Baptist Church are expected to picket an appearance Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., has scheduled Wednesday evening at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.

Georgia Democrat John Lewis leads a group of San Diego-area schoolchildren in a procession through 2015 Comic-Con International. (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call) — Lewis leads a group of San Diego-area schoolchildren in a procession through 2015 Comic-Con International. (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)

The 15-term lawmaker turned graphic novelist is no stranger to confrontation, having survived decades of oppression before and after his appearance at the 1963 March on Washington and the brutal Bloody Sunday brawl in Selma, Ala., just a few years later.

His reward for inexhaustibly championing equality has been constant reminders that the fight is far from over. According to a statement announcing the planned protest, the WBC is lashing out at Lewis because of his support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights.

Ya know that dude who marched with MLK in Selma? His name is @repjohnlewis & we’re picketing him at @WashburnUniv! pic.twitter.com/nU2svbzyhX
— WBCSays (@WBCsigns) October 14, 2015

Confidence is high a few clumsily written signs and some name calling will not deter a civil rights hero who firmly believes in causing “necessary trouble.”