Westboro Baptist Church (Phelps Family) demonstrates in Arlington

Not much to say about covering the Westboro Baptist Church protest Sunday morning. I think the photos speak of the craziness for themselves. An interesting note about the family, they are actually vacationing in North Texas and this is how they decided to spend their time. The story can be read on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's website here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/11/2327719/counterprotests-drown-out-westboro.html

Danielle Phelps, 14, with the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church, holds up a sign "Thanks God for Oil Spills," as Dylan Gravitt, of Arlington, holds a counter sign saying "That's what BP said..." outside of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Tx., Sunday, July 11, 2010. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon Wade Counter protestors demonstrate against the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church protesters outside of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Tx., Sunday, July 11, 2010. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon Wade L to R: Debora Phelps-Davis, 15, Danielle Phelps, 14, and Caleb Phelps, 10, with the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church protests outside of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Tx., Sunday, July 11, 2010. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon WadeAbigail Phelps with the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church protests outside of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Tx., Sunday, July 11, 2010. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon WadeDean Adams, 16, and his sister Erin, 19, (hidden behind the posters) both of Arlington, demonstrate against the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church outside of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Tx., Sunday, July 11, 2010. "I don't like people coming into my town telling me I'm going to Hell, as a tolerant educated person I thinks its my duty to oppose this hate," Erin said. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon WadeRebekah Phelps-Davis with the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church protests outside of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Tx., Sunday, July 11, 2010. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon WadeA passing motorist shows her support for the counter protesters demonstrating against the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church outside of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington, Tx., Sunday, July 11, 2010. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon WadeKansas based Westboro Baptist Church members protest outside of Fielder Road Baptist Church and Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Arlington Sunday morning. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon WadeAbigail Phelps with the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church, protests outside of Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Arlington, Tx., Sunday, July 11, 2010. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon WadeA passing motorists shows their opinion of the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church protest outside of Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Arlington, Tx., Sunday, July 11, 2010. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon WadeCounter-protestors demonstrate against the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church protests outside of Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Arlington, Tx., Sunday, July 11, 2010. Special to the Star-Telegram / Brandon Wade

Update on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 7:22AM by Brandon Wade

Awaiting standoff, man hasn't left property since 2000

I took these photos back in April for the Associated Press. The story finally went live about a week ago, but I haven't had a chance to sit down and properly post them. 

Essentially a man, John Joe Gray,  and some of his family members have been holed up on his property in Trinidad, Texas for the past 10 years, waiting for a police siege that has never come, and likely wont. The story and photos received significant play all across the country. You can read the story (all of them are the same) about John Joe Gray at Palestine Herald-Press,  AP hosted content on LimaOhio.com, The Tyler Morning Telegraph's website TylerPaper.com, StarTribune.com, TheNewsTribune.com , MSNBC.msn.com and at The Houston Chronicle's website Chron.com. 

In this April 9, 2010 photo, Jonathan Gray is shown on his father John Joe Gray's property near Trinidad, Texas. The Grays drink well water, eat vegetables grown in their garden and fish in the river that borders the land covered with a canopy of trees. They live in a ramshackle house and a mobile home and often eat at the picnic table far from the road but visible through the trees. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

This April 9, 2010 photo shows handmade signs on John Joe Gray's property near Trinidad, Texas. The past decade has taken a toll on John Joe Gray, holed up with relatives on his rural East Texas land while waiting for a siege that's never happened. He's been living on 47 acres behind a fence without running water and electricity but with plenty of guns, daring authorities to arrest him for a 10-year-old, third-degree felony warrant. Authorities say he'll be arrested if he does leave, but they have no plans for a raid that could harm innocents _ and so the so-called standoff persists. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

In this April 9, 2010 photo, a sign that reads " Vaccinations Equal Annihilation" is seen on John Joe Gray's property near Trinidad, Texas. The past decade has taken a toll on John Joe Gray, holed up with relatives on his rural East Texas land while waiting for a siege that's never happened. He's been living on 47 acres behind a fence without running water and electricity but with plenty of guns, daring authorities to arrest him for a 10-year-old, third-degree felony warrant. Authorities say he'll be arrested if he does leave, but they have no plans for a raid that could harm innocents _ and so the so-called standoff persists. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)This April 9, 2010 photo shows handmade signs on John Joe Gray's property near Trinidad, Texas. The past decade has taken a toll on John Joe Gray, holed up with relatives on his rural East Texas land while waiting for a siege that's never happened. He's been living on 47 acres behind a fence without running water and electricity but with plenty of guns, daring authorities to arrest him for a 10-year-old, third-degree felony warrant. Authorities say he'll be arrested if he does leave, but they have no plans for a raid that could harm innocents _ and so the so-called standoff persists. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)In this April 9, 2010 photo, Keith Tarkington is photographed at his parents' home in Gun Barrel City, Texas on Friday April 9, 2010. Tarkington's ex-wife, John Joe Gray's daughter, took their two children, now teenagers, 10 years ago to live on Gray's property in Trinidad, Texas. Tarkington said he no longer believes his ex-wife and children are living on the property and is unsure where they could be. Gray won't say whether Tarkington's sons were among the children who have lived there, or where they are now. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)