One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Photos: Westboro Church Protests Outside Ronnie James Dio's Memorial Service
The infamous protestors from Westboro Baptist Church visited Los Angeles yesterday to protest outside a memorial service for heavy metal rocker Ronnie James Dio. The public service was held in the afternoon at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park for the revered heavy metal singer and songwriter, who died of stomach cancer earlier this month.
"This rebel had a God-given platform - for decades - which he should have utilized to publish the truth of God,” the church said in a press release, according to Entertainment Weekly. “Instead, he used that platform - for decades - to teach rebellion against God, in the form glorifying atheism, promoting the devil horn hand sign & other such idolatries. Now he has been cut off by an Angry God & cast into hell.”
“Ronnie hates prejudice and violence!" responded Dio's wife, Wendy, in her own statement. "We need to turn the other cheek on these people that only know how to hate someone they didn’t know. We only know how to love someone we know!”
Wendy serves as the chair of Children of the Night, which Dios supported over the years, according to the Associated Press. The organization focused on the rehabilitation of teen prostitutes.
Over 1,200 Dio fans, including some notable friends, showed up for the event. Seen there was Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, Geoff Tate of Queensryche, Paul Shortino of Quiet Riot, John Payne of Asia and Joey Belladonna of Anthrax. Dio performed with Black Sabbath, Elf, Heaven & Hell, Rainbow and his own project, Dio.
Previously: Anti-Gay Westboro Baptist Protesters Outside the Oscars, Counter Protestors Try to Balance the Mood
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
