Amy Waller, via Twitter (@walleramy), sent this photo, which she says show the protestors at the first meeting of the Mitchell County Gay Straight Alliance tonight:

The group's Facebook page had this news earlier in the evening:

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Originally published 2011-11-15 01:47:37 PM and updated 2011-11-15 05:47:59 PMRead the full article

The group's Facebook page had this news earlier in the evening:
We've confirmed with local authorities that they have also heard that protesters are planning on being outside the library tonight [Nov. 15]. It is our understanding that representatives of the Bakersville Police Department and Mitchell County Sheriff's Department plan to be present in the vicinity. ...
Our first public meeting will be at the Mitchell County Library in downtown Bakersville. The focus of the meeting will be to meet in a casual, friendly atmosphere with other straight and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who are interested in civil rights and justice for all. Our focus will be to talk about Amendment One, set our priorities, and start down the road of creating a new environment in Mitchell County!

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Originally published 2011-11-15 01:47:37 PM and updated 2011-11-15 05:47:59 PMRead the full article
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Much respect for this group trying to make headway in my old hometown!
By Orton
11/15/2011
More power to you in Mitchell Co. Stand up to the haters and idiots. They are not the future, they are mired in a 50"s mindset. Move on.
By jeffsguy
11/16/2011
Maybe they all wanted to join, but didn't get an invitation?
By bill smith
11/16/2011
Go Mitchell county!!!! I live in south Carolina I just saw this on the local news and had to tell everyone that this is great. God never said to push your beliefs on anyone. And in my opinion gay people are the kindest people.
By whatever
11/16/2011
Caution: there are wrong assumptions being made with regard to the motivation of folks that gathered at the courthouse on Nov. 15. I observed that
this group was there in defense of traditional marriage, which the GSA wishes to defeat. There were no haters among folks toward anyone who attended the library meeting. It is easy to make assumptions, but it surely is a slippery slope, and not helpful to building bridges. Peace and love.
By imabusybb
11/17/2011
I believe the best way to educate people about who GLBT are is to get to know them and let them see that you are just another human being. It is very easy to marginalize and fear a whole group of people who represent a lifestyle foreign to you. It is much harder to do this to individuals who are your neighbors, co-workers, and fellow volunteers.
While an alliance may be useful for mutual support, I do not see the resulting protests and drama as being productive to promoting a unified community.
I am gay, I live in Mitchell County.
By farmer
11/17/2011
@imabusybb: "in defense of traditional marriage?"
Oh no. No one wants to ban "traditional marriage.". Just stop bigots from denying others the rIght to get married.
There is no 'defense' no matter how much you haters insist that giving everyone the right to marry somehow threatens YOUR right to marry.
By ICE
11/24/2011