[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 124-125]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]





                   REDONDO UNION HIGH SCHOOL PROTEST

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Hahn) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, this upcoming Monday, the Westboro Baptist 
Church plans to hold protests outside of Redondo Union High School in 
Redondo Beach, California. We have seen these protests before, often at 
the funerals of our fallen servicemen and -women. They are known, 
unfortunately, for their hateful message, especially against LGBT 
Americans.
  The members of this church believe that America's generation of high 
schoolers is ``utterly without hope.'' They say that because these 
young students are promoting acceptance and inclusion of all people, 
regardless of whether they are gay or straight.
  I couldn't disagree more with their premise of calling these students 
``without hope.'' I think because these students are promoting 
acceptance and inclusion of all people, regardless of whether they are 
gay or straight, they are building a future full of hope. I have the 
utmost faith in the next generation as the future leaders of this 
Nation.
  Of course, no matter how much I disagree with this group, these 
individuals should be allowed to exercise their

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right to protest, and they do have a right to free speech in this 
country. The students have those same rights, and an inspiring group of 
Redondo High students are organizing a peaceful counterprotest on 
Monday.
  Yesterday, I wrote a letter to the members of the school's Gay-
Straight Alliance and told them that I wished I could be there on 
Monday to protest alongside of them. These students deserve to live in 
a world where they can be who they are and love whom they choose. In 
standing up against hate and living a life of acceptance, inclusion, 
and understanding, they are making that world a reality.
  I know my colleague here, Ted Lieu, who represents Redondo Beach, 
joins me in saying that we are so proud of these students. We are proud 
of their courage, their bravery, their intelligence, and skill in 
standing up for what they know is right, just, and for being brave 
enough to organize a counterprotest.

                              {time}  1045

  I am going to be in Washington, D.C., on Monday. But if I were not 
here, I would want to be standing alongside each and every student to 
show my solidarity with them. Instead, let me tell them that I will be 
there in spirit.

                          ____________________