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Protest of High School Performance Cancelled

To All Coronado Community Members:

This morning the Coronado Unified School District filed suit for an injunction against the planned protest by Westboro Baptist Church, Inc. toward the district’s production of The Laramie Project. Shortly before the special status conference, the lawsuit was forwarded to counsel for Westboro. After review of the suit, counsel for Westboro responded that the planned protest for Coronado High School was canceled and the protesters would not be targeting Coronado High School this weekend. The Court accepted this representation, and directed counsel to contact the Coronado Police Department should Westboro change their position.

Thus, as it stands, Westboro has cancelled the protest at Coronado High School. However, in an abundance of caution, I will still ask for police presence at the school during both Friday and Saturday’s performance. All other plans for special security at this event will remain in place.

I believe that the entire community of Coronado was very appreciative of the stand that the District took on this issue. Such issues can be divisive and incredibly traumatic to a community. This community instead chose to band together, show support for one another, and encourage each other in a variety of ways. In particular, I would like to thank the leaders of our city government, our faith-based leaders represented by the Coronado Council of Churches, and all of those who finally understood why we embrace the Six Pillars of Character. Teaching character and showing character can sometimes be two different things. This event became an opportunity for our community to do both.

Jeff Felix
Superintendent of Coronado Unified School District

Tags: community, schools

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Comment by lisa on January 13, 2011 at 10:23pm: What good news! Thank you for sharing. I am proud of our school district, our students, our churches and our community for standing together in support of this important play.

Comment by Candace Tyler on January 14, 2011 at 12:24am: I'm with Lisa. Coronado Rocks and those aren't the rocks at the beach. The rocks are all the solid citizens of our community who stand for good in this world. I just sent this announcement to the Council of Churches, and all the group emails at the Coronado Community Church. ecoronado...you've kept us in the loop all day on this very important subject and I thank you.

Comment by Suzette Valle on January 14, 2011 at 7:53am: I'm sure more than a few will be disappointed to hear this turn of events since it did not give them the opportunity to stand physically together in a way they probably hadn't before, and wanted to witness this united stance. I understand the kids' safety was foremost on everyone's mind, and thus this step was necessary. I'm still very much in awe of our school district's bold move to first support this production, and secondly to send a clear message to it's students and community members that something needs to change. Thank you.

Comment by Kim Moreno on January 14, 2011 at 9:06am: I'm sorry but haven't we denied our kids an important lesson here?

I am not at all advocating the beliefs of the Westboro Baptist Church, but I think they have a right to express their opposition to this play being performed by a public school theater company. The Schools' Six Pillars of Character apply to the district, the school and the students. They do not apply to an outside organization.

Have we instead demonstrated the method of silencing opposing views by "sending in the attorneys"?

Comment by Katie's Mom Mary Grace on January 14, 2011 at 11:09am: Wow. What the heck is going on in our country and our world today? So much friction and dismay. Something is missing. Could it be values, morals, faith,family, lack of work? Let's face it, our country is struggling. Instead of name calling or hating people for their beliefs, color, religion or whatever our differences are, can't we help each other? I am not saying that being gay is right or wrong or being different in any way is right or wrong.

     I do not have the same feelings that same sex people do. I don't "get it" but I do know that people are taking their lives because of the critisism for the life they are living. I speak from experience here.

     My sister Carol was gay. She took her life fourteen years ago mainly because she was not excepted by people. She was a registered nurse and a very good person. To make a long story short, I wanted to say that just because she was gay or any other person is gay doesn't make them a freak or a bad person. I am not going to march in a gay pride parade or be the type of person who is in your face about their lifestyle. So long as the gay person is not in my face or flaunting the life style. But for all of our sake, we need to be more excepting of all people. You don't have to like it, you don't have to agree with it. We don't even have to understand it. We just don't need to hate people or be mean to people because someone is different!

    I don't agree with my sister taking her life or anyone else taking their life because they are different. Let them LIVE in peace!   Mary E. Grace

Comment by BLock on January 14, 2011 at 11:48am: All I know is that we just purchsed 4 tickets tonight in support of our students, the faculty, and the community.

Comment by Aleene Sexton Queen on January 14, 2011 at 12:13pm: I agree with Mary Grace! Live and let live .. we are all God's children.

Comment by Jeff Felix on January 14, 2011 at 12:23pm: The injunction asked to limit the space the protesters could use so the police would have clear guidelines for enforcement. This would be true for both sides since some people from Coronado intended to stage a counter-protest. Our intent was to keep the demonstration safe and orderly so that our students could attend without fear.

Comment by Kayt Dowling on January 14, 2011 at 10:16pm: Nicely done Jeff Felix.. Nicely Done!

Comment by Amelia-Marie Altstadt on January 17, 2011 at 2:10pm: @Aleene Sexton Queen. That is exactly the thing we are trying to change. The phrase "Live and let live", to quote The Laramie Project, "[...] is such crap" (Jonas Slonaker, Pg. 60). To me, that phrase means even if something is completely and utterly wrong we aren't supposed to care or change anything. I do not believe we have reached the climax, the stable state, of this issue. Humans as a whole have to accept everyone, allow them to do what they want or need within reason. I'm not saying everybody has to love another but to be tolerant of everyone would be nice. The WBC isn't tolerant, and we weren't very tolerant of them I admit, but it helped me realize we need to change that. The Laramie Project was just the first step, and there are still miles to walk.