???Details about the crash of Continental Flight 3407 in Clarence Center, N.Y. on Feb. 12 are still murky, as pieces of the puzzle continue to come together and witnesses keep recalling the moments after the crash when Buffalonians stood still in front of their television screens watching the media's immediate coverage.
???Hearts are still breaking over the loss of lives and memorial services are being scheduled as the investigation of the crash site continues.
???The Westboro Baptist Church, which has made a name for itself nationally for its views on homosexuality and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, plans to use this mourning period to protest in the Queen City in connection with the tragedy.
???This week, Westboro announced a protest scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sunday at the Zion Lutheran Church, a block away from the crash site in Clarence Center, although there is not a memorial service scheduled at the site.
???Protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church plan to be in Lutz, Fla., on Friday, as the family and loved ones of Marvin Renslow, the pilot of the Continental Flight 3407, gather to celebrate his life and mourn his death.
???"God cast the plane down," read the protest schedule of the Westboro Baptist Church. "At the First Baptist Dog Kennel of Lutz, Florida they are going to be worshiping a dead guy. What are they worshiping? Well the fact that he was behind the wheel throttle of the plane which landed on top of a house near Buffalo, N.Y. He's a hero, says the lying false prophet from this whore house, which is anything but Baptist."
???Members of the Westboro Baptist Church will be separated on Sunday between the West Coast and the East Coast, protesting in Los Angeles, and in Buffalo, spreading their message - that god is punishing the U.S. for its views on homosexuality and blasphemy by killing those in the armed forces, in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and most recently, in the Clarence Center plane crash, as acknowledged on the institute's Web site.
???"Don't worship the dead," an online announcement read. "We will picket this non-denominational community prayer service. God will not hear your prayers at this hour..."
???Officials at the Zion Lutheran Church on Clarence Center Road are aware of the planned protest, but explained that they have taken precaution and do not expect the protesters to disturb the service.
???"The police are aware of the situation. We know that they are not allowed on the property. They will protest on the corner on Goodrich Road and Clarence Center Road. We are one block east of that," said April Folckemer, an office manager at the church.
???Folckemer personally believes that the protesters are attempting to create publicity in the aftermath of the crash.
???"We are shocked. We are a block away from the crash site. It's just to get publicity..." Folckemer said. "A lot of people already know about them. We will not going to alarm the rest of the congregation. We are telling everyone police are going to be in presence."
???After an intended hour and a half of demonstrating in Clarence Center, the Westboro group will pick up protesting again at St. Joseph University Church on Main Street at 12:30 p.m.
???A memorial for Alison Des Forges, one of the 50 victims of Thursday's plane crash, will be held at that location. Des Forges, former adjunct assistant professor of history at UB during the 1990s, was a prominent human rights advocate, known for being the voice for the victims of the genocide in Rwanda.
???Dave Sampson, director of mission advancement with the St. Joseph University Church explains it is the responsibility of the church to carry on despite threats of protest, but with the presence of police.
???"We are certainly going to go on with the memorial service at 3 p.m. We've made contact with Erie Country Sheriff's Office," Sampson said. "We certainly want to be prepared, and we owe it to the family to go on with the memorial."
???The Westboro Baptist Church objects to Des Forges' memorial service because of her work in Rwanda.
Students gather to block out message of hate
???Approximately 100 UB students have gathered via Facebook and have agreed to help stop the Westboro Baptist Church from picketing at the memorial on Sunday. The Facebook Group, created by members of the UB Freethinkers club, aims to provide students with background information about the Church and meeting points.
???"We are familiar with who those people are. I think the main thing is to not make a big scene. We don't want to be confrontational. We will be there silent and peaceful," said John Kapitany, a member of the UB Freethinkers.
???The group of students who have vied to show up will dress in mainly white attire and hold up white sheets to block the protesters out of sight from those who attend the memorial service.
???"We want to have a wall that will separate and block them from view. We just want to be there and show support," said club member Ed Beck.
???According to the "counter-protest" event flyer, members will arrive early at the two locations, wear white and bear large signs with positive messages for the families of crash victims.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
