(Feb. 19, 2010, updated w/ video and large photo gallery) -- LBReport.com provides VIDEO and photo coverage of events as members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church encountered counter-demonstrators when they chose to picket at Long Beach's Wilson High School.

A large crowd of counter-demonstrators (we very roughly estimate over 1,000 but under 3,000) -- most of them students exiting Wilson High School at the end of the Friday school day -- outnumbered and drowned out the Westboro picketers. Many of the counter-demonstrating students carried hand-made signs.



Photo credit: Chris Brito



Photo credit: Chris Brito

Before school let out, counter-demonstrators already occupied three of the former corners at the intersection of Ximeno and 10th St. with picketers relegated to the NW corner...and some counter-demonstrators occupying nearby sidewalk.



Photo credit: Chris Brito



Photo credit: Chris Brito



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle



Photo credit: Shelley Brice-Boyle

At 2:50 p.m., exiting students swelled the crowd, moving westward on 10th St. Counter-demonstrators carried signs ridiculing the picketers; a young man with a slide trombone offered buffoonish sounds...and at least twice, counter demonstrators chanted "go home, go home."

Among those in the crowd of counter-demonstrators: Councilmembers Tonia Reyes Uranga , Robert Garcia and LB School Board candidate Jeff Price.

Shortly after 3 p.m., a van drove up escorted by LBPD units; some Westboro picketers entered the van.

A Wilson High students expresses his views with a digital salute:



LBReport.com video screen save

The van drove off...and the counter-demonstrators cheered wildly.

By about 3:15 p.m., the crowd was dispersing.

LBPD says initial reports indicated no arrests.

Earlier in the afternoon, a smaller but equally contemptuous crowd of counter-demonstrators met the Westboro picketers at the Alpert Jewish Community Center. No arrests were reported at that site either.

The Westboro picketers announced a schedule of sites on Sat. Feb. 20 and Sun. Feb. 21...and LBReport.com will continue to follow this story.

If you have photos you'd like to share, email them to LBReport.com. at mail@LBReport.com. Please include a contact phone number where we can reach you.