No Tolerance for Intolerance The Westboro Baptist Church has caused much controversy in recent years by exercising its right to free speech to the fullest extent during various protests. However, the controversy stems not from the right to free speech, but from what they say verbally and in writing on signs at protests. This church has been called a hate group rather than a religious organization, largely due to the fact that the WBC is not actually affiliated with any larger church denomination (Burke). Probably one of the most famous hate groups in America, the Ku Klux Klan, has even come out to talk about how terrible this group is, even counter-protesting their protests (“KKK vs. WBC”). Westboro Baptist Church will hold a protest virtually anywhere, anytime, including funerals, parades and public events, football games, Comic Cons, concerts and schools. Who is this group protesting against? It's not an easy question to answer considering they don't like anyone from the lesbian, bisexual, gay, transvestite community or anyone who supports this community, as well as soldiers in the United States Army or people who support our troops. The WBC is a great example of intolerance, because they are intolerant of anyone who doesn't have the exact same beliefs as them. Fred Phelps is the man who founded the WBC in 1955 in Topeka, Kansas, said to be founded on primitive Baptist beliefs and extreme Calvinism. Phelps had planned to attend West Point Military Academy until he went to a Methodist revival, which he said inspired him to enter the ministry. However, he and his wife moved to Topeka, Kansas, the same day the Supreme Court...... middle of paper......tist Church to defend protests against military funerals before the High Court." Fox News. FOX News Network, October 06, 2010. Web. May 22, 2014. Snyder, Whitney. "Westboro Baptist Church Pickets Funeral of Arizona Shooting Victims." The Huffington Post.com, January 9, 2011. Web. Stenovec, Timothy. “Westboro Baptist Church Says It Will Picket for Connecticut School Shooting Victims,” TheHuffingtonPost.com, December 16, 2012. Web, May 22, 2014. Okla., after celebrating tornado as divine punishment " International Business Times. Np, April 7, 2014. Web. May 20, 2014. "Westboro Baptist Church Protests Funeral of 7 Children Killed in Oklahoma Tornado." Endswith Beginnings. NP, May 22, 2013 May 20 2014.