Source: MyNorthwest.com KIRO Newsradio, Qblog, Seattle Times, KING5 News
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. -- Ken Hutcherson called last week for 1,000 to join him for a protest outside Mount Si High School this morning. He objects to a student-led observance called "Day of Silence" that's designed to raise awareness of anti-gay bullying.

The numbers that heeded his call were far lower according to all estimates. Associated Press put the count at "about 250 protesters and counter-protesters," but it's number appears to be generous by more than two times.

AP's story emphasizes that the protesters "have been yelling and arguing outside Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie about gay and lesbian students."

According to the Seattle Times, the "protest against the Day of Silence organized by the Rev. Ken Hutcherson of the Antioch Bible Church in Redmond drew about 100 followers. He had placed a newspaper ad summoning 'prayer warriors' to his protest."

KING 5 video: Gay, anti-gay demonstrators face off outside Snohomish school

Inside the school, students wore t-shirts and arm bands expressing their views about the National Day of Silence in support of gay and lesbian students, but outside, this day of silence was anything but quiet, KING5 TV reported. 

"Once we enter the building we will no longer be speaking," Austin Anderson, a student, told KING5. 

Anderson said his silence is in support of gays and lesbians who face discrimination and cannot speak out themselves.

Students participating in the demonstration were given strict guidelines about how to handle themselves and to report any kind of harassment.  If they're asked a question in class, they are required to answer.  Teachers are not allowed to take part in the day of silence.

Mount Si's principal estimated roughly 10 percent of the student population may be gay, KING5 reported. 

The principal told the station that no serious harassment issues have arisen in the last several months and calls the demonstration a form of expression which does not violate school policy against protests. 

Concerns over protests at their school compelled about 500 students - about one-third of the student body - to stay away from Mount Si High School.

Many anti-gay groups, including Focus on Family, have been urging parents for a month to hold their kids out of school as a way of protesting the Day of Silence. Focus on Family argues that many schools lose money when students are absent.

But outside of the school, adults gathered to talk and talk loudly.

On one side were supporters of students inside the school expressing their support of gays and lesbians.  On the other side were those protesting the school district for allowing the student-lead observance. Police kept both sides apart and tried to control the crowd with yellow tape.

"They want to have the day of silence?  Be like other clubs. Do it before or after school, not messing up the classroom," said Rev. Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond.  "For anyone to say that the Day of Silence does not interrupt the school, they're dead, blind or just plain prejudice."

Jim Valley of KIRO Newsradio and Patricia Manning Smith of KING5 filed the most complete reports.

A hundred or so Hutcherson supporters came out to protest the day of silence at the school, Valley reports. KING5 TV also estimated the crowd of anti-gay protesters at about 100.

"I don't see any days for religious freedom," Hutcherson is quoted as saying. The Redmond preacher, who has a daughter at the school, says any gay rights demonstrations should have been before or after classes.

Valley reports that about half as many people came out to defend the Day of Silence. He notes that the pro-DO
S protesters "were pretty vocal". Valley reports that one young man held a sign up next to the pastor that said, "THROW ROCKS HERE."

The sign holder -- "Johnny" -- told Valley, "I just wanted to show him how it is, how hurtful it is. He got very angry when he saw it and he was very hurt. I think I almost started to see him cry."

A student told KING5, "I think the adults out here are acting like 5th graders."

The smaller estimate of pro-Hutcherson demonstrators was echoed by parents who gathered later in the morning across town in a meeting room at Snoqualmie Library for a press conference about the Day of Silence observance.

Local ministers and parents joined members of GLSEN Washington, a group that supports Day of Silence observances, at the library. About 30 supporter of DOS gathered to listen along with about a dozen reporters who passed in and out after getting an appropriate sound-bite.

According to one of the parents who was at the library press conference, "about 100 or 120" parents gathered at the school long before Hutcherson showed up. She said that the parents quietly lined the sidewalks near school entrances wearing rainbow ribbons.

"We stood silently, which no dialog," said the woman who described herself as a committed Christian parent.

KIRO Newsradio's Valley counted a smaller number in the welcoming group. "About 50 gay rights supporters wearing armbands and carrying rainbow flags quietly demonstrated outside the school as classes started."

Full article: Gay, Anti-Gay Demonstrations Held At Mt. Si High School | KIRO Seattle
Gay, anti-gay demonstrators face off at Snoqualmie school | Seattle Times
100+ parents show quiet support for Day of Silence at Mount Si | seaQwa's Qblog
Protesters face off outside Snoqualmie, WA high school | KING5 News