ROMAINE PATTERSON: After seeing Fred Phelps protesting at Matthew’s funeral and finding out that he was coming to Laramie for the trial of Russell Henderson, I decided that someone needed to stand toe-to-toe with this guy and show the differences. And I think at times like this, when we’re talking about hatred as much as the nation is right now, that someone needs to show that there is a better way of dealing with that kind of hatred.

So our idea is to dress up like angels. And so we have designed an angel outfit—for our wings are huge—they’re like big-ass wings—and there’ll be ten to twenty of us that are angels—and what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna encircle Phelps … and because of our big wings—we are gonna com-plete-ly block him.

So this big-ass band of angels comes in, we don’t say a fuckin’ word, we just turn our backs to him and we stand there.… And we are a group of people bringing forth a message of peace and love and compassion. And we’re calling it “Angel Action.”

Yeah, this twenty-one-year-old little lesbian is ready to walk the line with him.

REVEREND FRED PHELPS: When those old preachers laid their hands on me it’s called an ordination. Mine was from Isaiah fifty-eight: one—“Cry aloud. Spare not. Lift up thy voice like a trumpet and show my people their transgressions.”

ROMAINE PATTERSON: And I knew that my angels were gonna be taking the brunt of everything he had to yell and say. I mean, we were gonna be blocking his view and he was gonna be liked pissed off to all hell.… So I went out and bought all my angels earplugs.

(“Amazing Grace” ends.)

MOMENT: JURY SELECTION

BAILIFF: The court is in session.

(All stand.)

NARRATOR: Romaine Patterson’s sister, Trish Steger:

TRISH STEGER: As soon as they started jury selection, you know, everybody was coming into my shop with “I don’t want to be on this trial. I hope they don’t call me.” Or, “Oh my God, I’ve been called. How do I get off?” Just wanting to get as far away from it as they could … very fearful that they were going to have to be part of that jury.

And then I heard … Henderson had to sit in the court-room while they question the prospective jurors. And one of the questions that they ask is: Would you be willing to put this person to death?

And I understand that a lot of the comments were: “Yes, I would.”

JUROR: Yes, I would, Your Honor.

JUROR: Yes, sir.

JUROR: Absolutely.

JUROR: Yes, sir!

(Jurors continue underneath.)

JUROR: No problem.

JUROR: Yep.

TRISH STEGER: Well, can you imagine hearing that? You know, juror after juror after juror …

MOMENT: RUSSELL HENDERSON

(“Amazing Grace” begins again.)