Students on Saturday blocked an ardent
anti-gay church's protest against Michael Sam.
The Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro
Baptist Church's protest against Sam at the University of Missouri
was diluted by hundreds of students wearing “Stand with Sam” pins
who formed a human wall around the school's basketball stadium.
Sam is the 24-year-old Missouri Tigers
football player and solid NFL draft prospect who came out gay last
week. If drafted, Sam would become the NFL's first openly gay
player.
(Related: Michael
Sam, NFL draft prospect, comes out gay.)
“He told the world he's a filthy
pervert and a rebel against God,” a Westboro Baptist Church
protester told Columbia-Jefferson City CBS affiliate KRCG. “And
they fond all over it.”
“Because Michael Sam stood up for
Mizzou his entire career and we need to stand up for him,” one of
the organizers
of the counter-protest said. (A video report is embedded on this
page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
Meanwhile, inside the stadium Sam
received a warm welcome during Missouri's basketball game against
Tennessee, where he received a standing ovation when he appeared on
the arena video boards.
During the game's halftime, Sam and his
teammates were honored for their Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State.