By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-912112.mp3
Dallas, TX – Members of the extremist, Westboro church protested in Dallas Friday. The tiny group targets Jews, Catholics, other Baptists, and homosexuals. But members of Resource Center, Dallas - which serves HIV-positive residents - chose to capitalize on the protest. KERA's Bill Zeeble explains.
The Topeka Kansas church of about 45 members routinely targets groups and events like military funerals. Westboro accuses its targets of not following God's word.
When Resource Center, Dallas, learned it was a target, the Center's Rafaell McDonnell decided to turn the protest into a fundraiser. It's seeking money for every minute of the planned half-hour Church protest. Because it serves meals to about 100 HIV-positive patients, McDonnell says the Center needs a working ice machine.
McDonnell: Our ice machine broke down several months ago and we've had to get ice from other sources to provide cold drinks for folks to have at lunch
Westboro Baptist Church targeted the Resource Center because it serves homosexuals, among others. Shirley Phelps-Roper,the Church's attorney and a member, hopes the Resource Center raises a lot of money.
Phelps-Roper: a broken ice machine, well, that's very appropriate that they're going to be because in hell, you get no ice.
McDonnell expects the Center will raise more than enough to buy the $3,100 ice machine. After it's purchased, he intends to put up a plaque thanking donors and Westboro Baptist.