A rousing rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody rang from Dutchtown High School today as University students and members of community protested an anti-gay group that never showed up. About 300 counter-protesters gathered at Dutchtown High School anticipating an anti-gay protest from the Westboro Baptist Church, a radical Christian group famous for picketing soldiers’ funerals and waving “God hates fags” signs.The Westboro Baptist Church scheduled a protest against the high school’s production of “The Laramie Project.”In 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, was severely beaten and left die tied to a fence outside of Laramie, Wyoming.  “The Laramie Project” chronicles life in the town of Laramie after Shepard’s murder. Students from Dutchtown High performed the play without issue on Wednesday with another performance scheduled for Thursday night.Thursday was a different story, as an eclectic mix of people singing and carrying signs lined the entrance to greet the Westboro Baptist Church in a counter-protest. But protesters from the WBC never showed up.”There was a lot of hype. To be honest, I’m kind of disappointed,” said University sculpture junior Peter Wischusen. “I saw a great sign earlier that said ‘I hate people who hate people.’ I think that says a lot about the people out here today.”While the true target of the counter-protest never showed up, one man stood opposing the group in the area reserved for the WBC. Anthony Battaglia, a self-described street evangelist said he came to reason with both the counter-protesters and the WBC. His arguments against the morality of homosexuality were met with some discussion but were mostly drowned out by renditions of “Row Row Row Your Boat” and the theme song for “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”Absurdity was prevalent for most of the protest. Students held signs saying “Billy Mays Lives,” and “Velociraptor Jesus Died for Your Sins.”One sign held by a student dressed as Jesus read “Fags are A OK with me.” While some protesters were handling the situation with humor, for others it was a much more serious matter. Dani Lamana’s brother was killed at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, and the Westboro Baptist Church picketed his funeral.”I’m disappointed they didn’t come,” Lamana said. “They need to know people are not going to put up with them anymore.”Even though there was nobody to protest against, many people felt the counter-protest was still a success. “If I would have came out here for this reason 25 years ago, there wouldn’t have been three people here,” said Shannon Triche, a protester who heard about the event on the radio. For some of the older people at the protest, the gathering brought back memories of the civil rights movement.”I see hope in this group that they are willing to stand up for the rights of minorities,” said Rhonda Browning, who protested for civil rights. “Even though Dr. King is history, he is local news today.”The University Theatre Department brought about 20 students to the protest.