The Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Photo from Facebook

An internationally-known hate group says it will stage a protest at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage.

The Westboro Baptist Church plans to show up June 1 at the center. The group says Alaska Natives should embrace Christianity instead of following their traditional cultures.

The announcement was quickly condemned. Alaska Natives and their supporters have scheduled a counter-rally through a group on Facebook, No Westboro Baptist Protest at our AK Native Heritage Center!

Mark Potok, an expert at the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the hate group typically fails to follow through on its protest threats. The announcements are typically designed to draw publicity, he said.

Get the Story:
Expert says its unlikely Westboro Baptist Church protesters will show up (The Anchorage Daily News 4/16)
God Hates Alaska Native Culture Says WBC (The Mud Flats 4/14)