Angels protect mourners at Orlando funerals from the Westboro Baptist Church
But, on Saturday, members of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church arrived in Orlando to picket the services - the fundamentalist church have previously protested at the funerals of US soldiers and have condemned Ireland for
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The Kansas-based extremist group had announced their intention on Twitter that they planned to attend with anti-gay signs and offensive chants - they see last week’s attack on the gay nightclub as a sign from god.
But there were those who were determined not to let them disrupt the services.
Members of the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre Company arrived dressed as angels and used their 8ft wings to shield mourners from the small number of protestors.
The Angels arrive to huge applause at St Luke's for funeral #OrlandoStrong @wmfeorlando to block WBC pic.twitter.com/xLbDM9GXrA
— Catherine Welch (@CWELCHNEWS) June 18, 2016
Demonstrators also sang ’Amazing Grace’ and the American national anthem to drown out the picketers’ chanting.
WBC protests as supporters sing national anthem. "I love you Orlando" yelled out, crowd cheers @wmfeorlando pic.twitter.com/BnAdageIDj
— Catherine Welch (@CWELCHNEWS) June 18, 2016
#OrlandoStrong @wmfeorlando theater community spreads its wings to block WBC from family @tamarakeithNPR pic.twitter.com/TBbAlNmjAE
— Catherine Welch (@CWELCHNEWS) June 18, 2016
The Westboro members eventually left, to cheers from the angels and the onlookers.
People cheer as tiny group of Westboro Baptist Church protesters leaves. Also thank @OrlandoPolice #OrlandoStrong pic.twitter.com/BXHYthWnyU
— Joey Flechas (@joeflech) June 18, 2016
