Citizens Gather to Reject Hate Group at Albany City Hall

ALBANY, NY (03/05/2009)(readMedia)-- Ten Albany-based community organizations and churches are encouraging their members to gather on the steps of Albany's City Hall today at 5:00pm in a "Unity in the Community "vigil. The vigil is being called to pre-empt the scheduled local appearances on Friday morning by members of the extremist Westboro Baptist Church (www.godhatesfags.com) with a united message of love and unity.

Those calling for the vigil include Albany City Parent Teacher's Association, Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club, Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council, First Congregational Church of Albany, Holy Trinity National Catholic Church, In Our Own Voices, Marriage Equality New York Reformed Church of America- Room for All, UAlbany Pride Alliance and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.

The group also hopes to dissade people from showing up at the Westboro Church's first scheduled stop on Friday-Albany High School. "We can best serve our community by coming together in a positive show of unity and love at the Unity in the Community vigil on Thursday March 5," emphasized Reverend Tony Green of the first Congregational Church of Albany, "and not by letting Phelps turn our high school into a circus and subject our community to chaos and lawsuits."

Coalition members have also established a web site for updated information at http://www.albanyunited.com.