‘Angels’ From Orlando’s Theater Community Guard Mourners From Protesters
Dressed in white and wearing large wings, the “angels” stood in a row in order to shield the family and friends of the victims. The idea, according to American Theatre, is to allow the mourners to “grieve in peace.”
The Orlando Shakespeare Theater led the effort after the Westboro Baptist Church called for its members to protest outside funerals in Orlando on Saturday, holding signs with anti-gay slogans.
“We didn’t know that anyone would protest the funerals here in Orlando, but that is now happening, so a counter-protest so that people that are attending those funerals and those that are in mourning don’t have to deal with hate is an important thing,” Orlando Shakespeare Theater’s Jim Helsinger told the Miami Herald.
“I don’t have any money to give, but I can spread love and I can spread hope,” volunteer Jeannie Haskett told the Herald as she pieces together the wings. “I was just waiting for an opportunity to use one thing I do have, which is the skill to sew.”
More: ‘Angels’ From Orlando’s Theater Community Guard Mourners From Protesters : The Two-Way : NPR