Fight the H8 (Photo: mine, fair use encouraged)
A peaceful protest against the passage of Proposition 8, which if it becomes law will eliminate marriage equality in California, took place on the streets of San Diego. The Police estimate the turnout at 20,000, but march organizers say 25,000 citizens hit the streets to loudly and proudly say NO to H8. The atmosphere was electric. Marchers of every faith, race and sexual orientation chanted, blew whistles, sang and cheered their way along the route under sunny skies. The turnout among young people was especially large, with many saying they’d never marched for anything before in their lives.
A handful of racist and anti-gay Prop 8 supporters greeted the throng at one street corner, and one man, identified as a member of the anti-immigrant Minutemen, was arrested when he attacked a Latino marcher.
The march’s organization and much of the advance publicity took place on the internet through blogs and social networking sites such as FaceBook and MySpace. Word of mouth spread like a wildfire as friends asked friends, family and coworkers to join them as they took to the street for equality and justice for all.
The march turnout dwarfed the number of people who showed up for the anti-gay, Pro-Prop-8 event, The Call, held at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium a few days before the election. Â
Here’s a small group of photos from the event. Fair use, as always, is encouraged.
(All photos: mine, fair use encouraged)
UPDATE: (11-15, 05:37 pm Pacific) Veteran reporter Rex Wockner has his post up on the San Diego march. I briefly met Mr Wockner today at the start of the San Diego march. He’s depicted 7 photos up, with the baseball cap behind the US flag.
Towleroad has a huge collection of photos from demonstrations across the US.
Peter, who is a frequent commenter here, emailed these photos from the march in San Francisco. Thank you, Peter.
UPDATE: (11-15, 09:03 pm Pacific) New York, New York is a helluva town! Don’t believe me? Check out Blabbeando!
Click for Printable Version
It was great marching with you today. Your photos recorded the resolve of everyone who participated to march on until we are accorded the civl rights we are entitled to.
Sure, Prop. 8 is a California thing. So we in itty-bitty San Diego felt it more. We had 25,000 and NYC had 10,000! Let’s make it a nation united for freedon from discriminators.
My favorite sign from the SF rally was the one being held by a young hippyish guy that read, “C’mon, man, why can’t I marry a dude?” Very cute. (The slogan too.) :)
Love Wins Out! Cal. You crossed all borders and inspired the world.