The Westboro Baptist Church has vowed to protest the funerals of those who were killed in the bombings at the Boston Marathon Monday.
Margie Phelps, daughter of church head Fred Phelps, tweeted Monday that the bombing was punishment for gay marriage. “God doesn’t hear the prayers of proud pushers of #SSM (same-sex marriage),” she wrote.
“You marry f*gs, God sends mayhem,” she said in another tweet.
The main Westboro Baptist Church Twitter account also used the social media network to announce a campaign to change the name of the city.
“WBC is starting campaign to re-name F*g-infested Boston to Magormissabib, meaning ‘terror all around.’ Jer20:3 # ThankGod4TheTerrorOfTheLord,” the tweet said.
In another tweet, the church wrote, “God sent the Boston Marathon Bombs for the sin of Massachusetts passing same-sex marriage!”
Around 2:50 pm, an explosion occurred near the finish line of the marathon route. About 15 seconds later, a second explosion happened. At first, it was unclear what caused the explosions, and some speculated that it was either something electrical or a bomb. It was later confirmed that it was, in fact, two bombs . Others were found along the marathon route but were not detonated.
Early reports said there were two dead and 22 injured, but the second number quickly grew to 100+. As for the two fatalities, one was confirmed to be an 8-year-old boy.
Initial reports stated that a suspect was being held in custody at Massachusetts General Hospital, but a Boston Police Department spokesman later denied this claim , saying it was unclear where the New York Post , which originally broke the story about a “Saudi national” being held, had gotten its information.
Whether Westboro Baptist Church will actually show up to the funerals will remain to be seen. Church members were noticeably absent at the funeral of Roger Ebert , who provoked the wrath of the church just days before his death when he tweeted a link to a Salon article about a gay man who spent a day at the church.
In light of #BostonMarathon #explosion ,@ bostonglobe , the #SignOfTheDay is now officially [drumroll]… twitter.com/WBCsigns/statu…
— Westboro Baptist (@WBCSays) April 15, 2013
God sent the Boston Marathon Bombs for the sin of Massachusetts passing same-sex marriage! #SHAME #USAsDoom twitter.com/WBCPhotos/stat…
— Westboro Baptist (@WBCSays) April 15, 2013
Thank God for the Boston Marathon Bombs! Praise God Almighty for the outpouring of His perfect & just wrath!! #WBCToPicket #Magormissabib
— Westboro Baptist (@WBCSays) April 15, 2013
Too late! You’ve enraged God w #SSM Mr. President. #stopit MT @ capehartj : POTUS:American people will say prayer for people of Boston tonight
— MargiePhelps (@MargieJPhelps) April 15, 2013
Blood on his hands. His abortion & #SSM caused it! #shame MT @ dndailypolitics : @ barackobama Discusses Explosions #BostonMarathon #POTUS
— MargiePhelps (@MargieJPhelps) April 15, 2013
Do you think Westboro Baptist Church will show up to the funerals of the Boston Marathon explosion victims?