The Westboro Baptist Church has announced plans to picket at the University of Alabama on May 18.

According to the group, known for its inflammatory protests at funerals and high-profile events across the country, the WBC will appear at the university beginning at noon to "remind them of the wrath of God that visited them two years ago, wherein they did not have finals, and their graduation exercises were cancelled."

Six UA students and at least 47 other people were killed and more than 12 percent of the city was impacted by an

. At least 253 people in Alabama were killed in the historic outbreak of tornadoes across the state and region.

The Westboro Baptist Church claims in its protests that the country's toleration of homosexuality has led God to punish Americans with the deaths of soldiers, disasters and other tragedies. On the WBC schedule page, the group singles out same-sex marriage as its concern:

WBC has planned a series of demonstrations from May 17-22, including those at Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, in Memphis, Tenn., on May 17 and at the University of Mississippi -- to protest the idolization of football and its players -- on May 18. The group also plans to picket President Obama's commencement address at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., on May 19.

The University of Alabama has not been contacted by the Westboro Baptist Church, UA spokeswoman Cathy Andreen said this morning.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said he was not aware of the planned picketing until this morning.

"They have a right to free speech, and as long as they abide by the laws of this city and this state, that is their right to protest as they choose," Maddox said. "Personally, I have a different take. The God I saw after April 27 was a God of love, compassion and generosity."

Here are some reactions posted on Twitter to the WBC's plans to picket in Tuscaloosa:

Westboro plans to picket UA in Tuscaloosa on the 18th in honor of the tornadoes. Can't believe the cruelty @spann http://t.co/Ys4kQ6Y6Pu — Erika’s Anathema (@AwkwardEthos) May 6, 2013

Westboro Baptist Church is coming to Tuscaloosa May 18 to "remind us of the wrath God brought two years ago." Let's organize. Dead serious. — Bo Latham (@BoLatham) May 6, 2013

The Westboro Baptist Church is coming to Tuscaloosa. Who wants to go counter protest them with me? — Cam Harless (@CamHarless) May 6, 2013

The Westboro mouth breathers are coming to Tuscaloosa on May 18th... sigh. — David A. Smith (@DSmithScenes) May 6, 2013

A

asked the university and city to stop the picketing, but has since been changed to ask them to speak out against the picketing. In the petition's comments, another person suggests forming a "crimson wall" to block the protestors, as

.

Last year, Gov. Robert Bentley signed into law a bill that

. The bill was created in response to disruptions caused by the WBC.

The group has made several appearances in Alabama over the years, including the funerals of soldiers and the funeral of a Huntsville student killed in a bus crash in 2006. The Westboro Baptist Church also picketed the funeral of Lauren Burk, an Auburn University student who had been kidnapped and murdered, in Marietta, Ga.

The Westboro Baptist Church has missed announced demonstrations in the past. In December, the group

, one of the victims in the mass shooting at the school in Newtown, Conn.

Updated at 5 p.m to reflect changes to the petition