Protestors from the ultra-conservative, right-wing Westboro Baptist Church were in Maryland as courthouses reopened for the first time since same-sex marriage became legal.
Visitors to courthouses in Annapolis and Towson were met by a handful of protestors from the controversial Westboro Baptist Church on Wednesday. The group was protesting the courthouses over same-sex marriage ceremonies taking place.
The residents of both cities protested the church members.
In Annapolis, an estimated 250 people gathered to protest in favor of same-sex marriage and against Westboro Baptist's message of hate and discrimination. Protestors in Towson held signs of support for same-sex marriage drowning out the church members.
Police said neither protest resulted in any incidents or arrests.
Westboro Baptist Church is famous for protesting military funerals, claiming the deaths of soldiers are the result of American acceptance of homosexuality. A Supreme Court decision ruled their protests as protected speech. As a result, counter-protests have sprung up to mitigate the group's message.
The group picketed funerals for the victims of Sandy Hook last month. Westboro Baptist member Shirley Phelps-Roper was reported by the Baltimore Sun as saying, "You know, Connecticut has same-sex marriage. God sent the shooter into Newtown." It's not the first time the group has tied gay marriage to the shootings.
Westboro Baptist maintains a schedule of future events on their website.
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