Funerals were held Saturday in Orlando for some of the 49 victims of last week's terror attack on a gay nightclub.
A notorious Kansas-based extremist group, the Westboro Baptist Church, traveled to Orlando to protest some of the funerals with anti-gay signs.
WBC protests as supporters sing national anthem. "I love you Orlando" yelled out, crowd cheers @wmfeorlando
The group, which is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as "arguably the most obnoxious and rabid hate group in America," was led by the fundamentalist Fred Phelps until his 2014 death.
Carrying offensive signs and chanting hateful slogans, four protesters tried to interrupt Saturday's funerals.
WBC members show,4, yelling "never ok to be gay" counter protestors sing Amazing Grace @wmfeorlando @JHBaileyDC
But they were blocked from view by heavenly volunteers who dressed up as angels.
The Angels arrive to huge applause at St Luke's for funeral #OrlandoStrong @wmfeorlando to block WBC
At Orlando counter-protest, angels wearing large wings ensure Westboro protesters don't disrupt the funeral proper.
The "Angel Action" counter-protest can be traced back to when Westboro members picketed the funeral of Laramie, Wyoming gay teen Matthew Shepard in 1998.
Friends of Shepard dressed as angels to block protesters at the murder trials for the two men who beat him and left him tied to a fence.
Saturday's angels, members of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, were met with hugs to thank them for their actions.
#OrlandoStrong @wmfeorlando theater community spreads its wings to block WBC from family @tamarakeithNPR
Hundreds of demonstrators also reinforced the angels by singing the hymn "Amazing Grace" to drown out the Westboro supporters' hateful chants.
Surreal: one side sings 'amazing grace' as protesters chant against them while #orlandoshooting funeral next door
The solemn singing was truly heartwarming.
Amazing grace against Westboro Baptist Church.
Eventually, the tiny group of Westboro protesters left and the angels were cheered as heroes.
People cheer as tiny group of Westboro Baptist Church protesters leaves. Also thank @OrlandoPolice #OrlandoStrong
Westboro protesters have left the state & no plans to return. Thank you to those who met protest with grace & love.
💜💛💙💚💔
Supporters sing Amazing Grace to drown out WBC @wmfeorlando #OrlandoStrong