As if we needed another reason to love Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe, the guy has decided to take it to the infamous protest group of Westboro Baptist Church, who have made multiple headlines over the years for obnoxiously picketing at things like funerals and public events with hate speech and anti-LGBT messages.
So what happened when Westboro showed up in Randy's home state of Virginia to protest the Del. Danica Roem, D-Manassas, who is the state’s first and only openly transgender lawmaker?
He organised a counter-protest with kazoos, costumes and drums to drown them out in a both effective and hilarious display, which resulted in the protesters giving up. Scroll down for a bunch of footage which shows Blythe donning a colourful wig and leading a score of metalheads in outrageous noise!
Lamb of God lead singer Randy Blythe leading counter-protesters to an appearance by Westboro Baptist Church at Capitol Square Richmond, Virginia. pic.twitter.com/7jAwqijFKi
— Chip Lauterbach (@ChipLauterbach) March 11, 2019
I somehow ended up up Randy Blythe’s protest against the Westboro Baptist Church ?? pic.twitter.com/CNbhwBAs2P
— Doc Coyle (@DocCoyle) March 11, 2019
A “friendly” goodbye to the Westboro Baptist Church. pic.twitter.com/PHOg8Wzeax
— Olivia Ugino (@OliviaNBC12) March 11, 2019
Randy explained his motives in an interview with StyleWeekly before the whole thing went down, saying:
"Why bother throwing a kazoo counterparty when the loonies of the Westboro Baptist Church show up? Well, first and foremost, Danica is my friend. I don't like people who mess with my friends. Second, their 'message' sucks — they do have the right to preach it, but we also have the right to drown it out with kazoos. Third, it's too good of an opportunity to pass up. Who doesn't want to hear a few hundred people playing the 'Sanford & Son' theme on kazoos? Only a truly godless and un-American puppy-kicking troglodyte, that's who."
"Why let a perfectly good chance for some harmless and hilarious mischief pass by? Some people say: 'Just ignore them, you're only giving them more publicity to raise money with.' I disagree. From the Southern Poverty Law Center website: 'Fred Phelps and his small congregation provide WBC's funding; the group neither solicits nor accepts outside donations.' Phelps is dead and gone, but many members of this 'church' are lawyers, and they fund their activities from lawsuits — someone loses their cool and punches one of them, and then they sue the pants off of the aggressor. Or a city won't let them protest, and then they sue the city. This has substantially increased their coffers several times."
"So let them come with their signs and nonsense. As long as everyone remains cool, ignores these mental cripples, and plays ripping kazoo tunes, then all the Westboro Baptist will have accomplished is burning some of the funds in their travel bank account."
Not all heroes wear capes!
