UPDATE: Residents Plan Counter-Protest Against Westboro Baptist Church

A group of University Park residents have applied for a permit to hold a counter-protest Tuesday against the , according to Mayor John R. Tabori.

The church, known for its anti-homosexual stance and for protesting the funerals of fallen soldiers, sent out a press release announcing the protest at .

University Park Resident Nicole Lucier created an event on Facebook recruiting area residents to join the counter-protest.

"We’ve requested the Underwood Street to Calverton Drive on Adelphi Road," Lucier said, "and a permit for the 3900 block of Van Buren Street."

The permit will be voted on Monday at the University Park council meeting, but she said she wants to talk to residents on that block and council members to gain support before the meeting.

"We don't know how many people will come out because it's a work day but we're hoping for 50 to 100 people," Lucier said. "I want to get more people on board with the counter-protest including groups from UMd."

She said she's hoping to gather folks to make signs over the weekend.

Although the church sent out a press release and contacted Hyattsville City Police about the protest, they haven't applied for a permit yet with University Park, Tabori said.

Sgt. Chris Purvis, a spokesman with the Hyattsville police, said the Westboro church members will protest from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., according to the press release they sent.

Purvis said he isn't sure of the exact location of the protest and isn't sure whether a permit is required or not.

He said police will patrol the area starting around 7 a.m. and are concerned about the students and others' safety.

"We're adjusting our shifts, determining our manpower and a contingency plan with other jurisdictions," Purvis said, noting they can call on the Prince George's County Police Department, the Maryland National Capital Park Police, Maryland Transit Police and others for help if necessary.

Although the church hasn't protested at Northwestern High before, he said they did protest in front of the a couple of years ago.

Currently, the Westboro Baptist Church site is down and cannot be accessed.