update to Tim’s funeral

Those WBC protesters, they never even showed up!  The following is a letter of thanks from the organizers of the supporters of the funeral.

Thanks to everyone who came out today to show their support.

The day was a success: We had a great turn out – likely upwards of 400 people. 

And the Westboro group (WBC) did not show their faces once!

All who gathered today were extremely calm, collected, and peaceful. Most of all, everyone was so respectful – of each other, of the church area, of the family, and the police.

It was amazing to see so many people standing for hours in the hot sun, yet remaining cheerful (some people even walked back and forth passing out free Timbits – thanks guys!) and vigilant. Many remained for over four hours until after the funeral had ended to make sure that even if Westboro group showed up at the very last minute, there would still be enough people ready to form a “human chain” to protect the family. Finally, as a number of the funeral attendees walked out of the church and down the street, the crowd gathered held a respectful moment of silence.

At one point, just before the funeral service, some of the friends and family of the McLeans came out and walked down the long line of people gathered along the sidewalks around the church. They shook hands and thanked the crowd for being there and showing support. It was an incredibly moving moment. Hearing their thanks meant so much.

Thanks to all of you non-Winnipeggers from around Canada and the rest of the world for showing your support for the McLean family and for our actions on their behalf today!

Like James Cotton, Raymond Henry, and many others who have already commented today, I was extremely proud to stand outside today with my fellow Winnipeggers/Canadians in this act of resistance and support. Our actions as a community today showed that “the forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and sympathy are also stronger than ever before” (Theodore Roosevelt).

~
Amalia