Kansans form ‘angel wall’ to shield shooting victims’ funerals

Over 2,000 people turn out to protect families from Westboro Baptist Church protesters

By Maayan Jaffe 19 April 2014, 2:05 pm 4

Edit

Kansas City residents form 'angel wall' outside funeral of victims killed in April 2014's shooting in Overland Park, KS. (photo credit: Mendel Segal)

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS — More than 2,000 Kansas residents turned out Friday to form an 80-block-long wall surrounding the funeral of Dr. William Corporon and Reat Underwood, two of the three victims of last Sunday’s shootings in Overland Park, Kansas.

According to Rabbi Mendel Segal, the wall was both protecting the families from protesters of the Westboro Baptist Church and “standing for love and good and against hate and evil.”

At the funeral, Reat’s mother, Mindy Corporon, said, “Something good is happening from this,” before she recounted the beautiful and fulfilling 14 years that her son celebrated on earth. She described her son and her father as “hunting together in heaven.”

Dr. Corporon’s son, Will Corporon, told listeners to “love one another more deeply. Look for ways to live more civilly. Above all, search for — and hopefully find — the kind of faith that will sustain you.”

Rose Marchick, who helped organize the angel wall, said, “I am very proud of our community.”