Tue. December 18, 2012
Topeka, KS -
Members of the hacktivist group Anonymous have targeted the Westboro Baptist Church after the anti-gay hate church announced plans to picket a vigil for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Hackers claiming to be associated with the Internet activist group Anonymous hacked the Westboro Baptist Church's (WBC) website and a Twitter account belonging to church spokeswoman Shirley Phelps-Roper. The hacktivists have also released the names, addresses and contact details of alleged church members.
Phelps-Roper on Saturday tweeted: "Westboro will picket Sandy Hook Elementary School to sing praise to God for the glory of his work in executing his judgment."
In response KY Anonymous posted a video that said: "We will not allow you to corrupt the minds of America with your seeds of hatred... We will destroy you. We are coming."
The hacker group then posted a list of data on the Pastebin website. CNET reported that the list includes the names, street addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of alleged Westboro parishioners, which is mostly Fred Phelps' immediate family.
On Monday Anonymous tweeted: "WBC we know where you're sleeping tonight... "
Meanwhile, a petition to revoke the tax exempt status of the Westboro Baptist Church and re-classify the church as a hate group has been filed on the White House, We the People, website.
The Topeka-based hate church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, gained national attention when they protested at the funeral of Matthew Shephard with signs that read "No Fags in Heaven" and "God Hates Fags." The church is infamous for protesting military funerals.
Related: Rev. Fred Phelps' son tells about years of abuse at Westboro Baptist Church
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