Even in the most tragic and desperate of situations, the human spirit can surprise you. A 10 year-old girl named
Hailey Owens
was brutally kidnapped, raped and murdered in Springfield, Missouri.
When she was taken, a neighbor tried to follow the kidnapper after
calling the police but the murderer escaped. Police found the terrible
person responsible for this crime three hours later, but it was already
too late to save the little girl.
Her death has been mourned by the entire community, so when the
Westboro Baptist Church came to picket her wake, they received a
response they never expected.
This is how the town responded to the threat of the picketers.
Hayley’s life was stolen from her by a twisted man, and Westboro wanted to use her death for their own agenda.
Nearly 10,000 people showed up to guard Hailey’s wake from the Westboro picketers.
The town prayed for the little girl during a candlelit vigil and showed her family love and respect.
It is rumored that Westboro attempted to picket her wake because
they blamed her death on Mizzou allowing gay athletes to play.
When it came down to it, the people with messages of love greatly outnumbered those evil people trying to picket her wake.
What happened to Hailey is a tragedy, no one should use such a crime for their own protests.
What this town did was amazing.
There are monstrous people in this world that do nothing but spread
loss and pain. However, it’s incredible to see the genuine love and
kindness of strangers that still exist in the face of evil. At the
vigil, a singer performed “Amazing Grace.” Mayor Seifried called for a
moment of silence in memory of Hailey Owens and then concluded the event
with a reading from the Bible.
What the Westboro Baptist Church attempted to do was sick, but what Springfield did was so loving.
Source:
KY3 via
Reddit
