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A growing crowd of protesters greeted four members of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church outside Cranston City Hall on Thursday morning, the day gay marriage became legal in Rhode Island.

By 9 a.m., the Westboro Baptist Church members had moved to Providence and were delivering their message across from City Hall, but a larger group supporting same-sex marriage filled the steps of City Hall and countered their message.

About half an hour later, the four Westboro Baptist Church protesters and several hundred counter-protesters moved up the street, gathering on the Smith Street side of the State House.

Counter-protesters have been following the Westboro Baptist Church members in their planned multiple stops throughout the state.

Counter-protesters next moved to Prospect and Waterman streets, by Brown University, the crowd swelling three-fold by the time the Westboro Baptist Church protesters arrived.

The rallies have remained noisy and peaceful. Providence police, Rhode Island State Police and Brown University police are keeping a watch on the events.

By 11:15 a.m., the Westboro Baptist Church members were preparing to leave the state. http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130801-protes
ters-in-cranston-met-by-bigger-crowd-supporting-same-sex-marriage.ece

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