Just minutes after the news came down from the California Supreme Court this morning, a crowd of hundreds on McAllister Street started marching past City Hall towards Van Ness Avenue. (Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Minister of Information Nate Ballard can be seen Twittering the scene camera left):
“Prop 8 – A Modern Day Witch Hunt”:
The marchers ended up at Grove and Van Ness to block the intersection with the intent of some them doing whatever it takes to get arrested. Supervisorial candidates Debra Walker and Rafael Mandelman linking up to block the street:
After a while, the people blocking the intersection started to sit down…
…under the pouring sun
Interestingly, all the cops in with the crowd blocking the normally busy intersection were “liason officers” familiar with the Castro area and the No on 8 movement. That’s quite a different approach compared to the way the SFPD handled the White Night Riots of three decades ago.
Non “liason officers” standing guard outside of the scrum:
The California Highway Patrol was up in the sky – there’ll be no embarrassment for them today, unlike this situation from last year when they didn’t know what was going on at first. Orbiting low and slow with the flaps extended a bit. It’s a living…
All the while, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera was hosting a news conference inside City Hall:
The names of same-sex couples adorn this sculpture in the South Light Court:
Dennis Herrera with Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese Stewart:
See what they, and others had to say about today’s decision, after the jump
From San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom:
The Road from Here to Marriage Equality
Dear Friends,
Today we must turn anger into action.
It’s cold comfort to many that history is moving in the right direction, with five states already on their way to marriage equality. But it’s our job to make sure history moves faster towards equality here in California.
We must redouble our efforts in California to finally win this fight for equal rights. Please, take a moment today and lend your voice to this just cause.
Sign our petition for marriage equality.
Join the tireless efforts of the Courage Campaign and Equality California.
Let’s be respectful. But let’s be clear. We must start changing minds today. I know many of my fellow Californians may initially agree with this ruling, but I ask them to reserve final judgment until they have discussed this decision with someone who will be affected by it.
Please talk to a lesbian or gay family member, neighbor or co-worker and ask them why equality in the eyes of the law is important to every Californian. Please talk to local business leaders who know that this will cost jobs and make California less competitive. Please remember we all know someone who is hurt by this decision. Please reach out to these friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors and discuss why this decision is wrong for California.
California, at its best, is a beacon of equal rights and equal opportunities. If we want to prosper together, we must respect one another.
That’s why we must resolve to restore marriage equality to all Californians. Let this work start today. Sign our petition and join the efforts of the Courage Campaign and Equality California.
Details of the press conference from Dennis Herrera:
Prop 8 Ruling Press Conference to be Held
Tuesday, May 26 at 10:30 at San Francisco City Hall
Press conference and interview opportunities to cover CA Supreme Court
decision
SAN FRANCISCO (May 22, 2009) — A press conference will be held on
Thursday, May 21 at 10:30 am in response to the California Supreme Court’s
ruling in the Prop 8 legal challenge. Attorneys, joined by religious and
civil rights leaders, will discuss the impact of the court’s decision and
the next steps moving forward.”
WHAT:
Prop 8 legal challenge ruling press conference
WHEN:
Tuesday, May 26 at 10:30 a.m.
WHO:
* S.F. City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Santa Clara County Counsel Ann Ravel
and S.F. Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese Stewart
* Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights and
Shannon Minter, Legal Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
* Elizabeth Gill, Staff Attorney, ACLU LGBT & AIDS Project
* Eva Paterson, President, Equal Justice Society, amici
* Raymond C. Marshall of Bingham McCutchen on behalf of civil rights groups
the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, the California State Conference of
the NAACP, Equal Justice Society, Mexican American Legal Defense and
Education Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., amici
* Geoff Kors, Executive Director and Andrea Shorter, Coalition Coordinator,
Equality California
* Tawal Panyacosit, Director, API Equality
* Rev. Rick Schlosser, Executive Director, California Council of Churches,
amici
* Same-sex couples
WHERE:
South Light Court, City Hall, San Francisco, California
Prior to the press conference, same-sex couples, civil rights and faith
leaders, and attorneys will gather on the steps of the California Supreme
Court, Earl Warren Building, 350 McAllister Street in San Francisco.
The cases are Strauss et al. v. Horton et al. (S168047); Tyler v.
California et al (S168066; and CCSF v. Horton (S168078). For more
information, go to:
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8.htm
From Senator Leland Yee:
“A year ago, our Supreme Court reaffirmed the highest ideals of our republic. Today, it is only Justice Moreno in his dissent who now stands on the right side of history. Proposition 8 and the decision reach by the Court today weaken our Constitution. All minorities could now be at risk of losing fundamental rights by the will of the majority – a concept completely counter to the equal protection clause.
For far too long, our nation has unfairly allowed state-sanctioned discrimination. We must not stop this effort until all loving relationships and all families are fully recognized with the rights, privileges, and joys of marriage.”
From Assemblymember Tom Ammiano:
“Today’s Supreme Court opinion upholding Prop. 8 is a stark reminder that the struggle for equality and justice must and will go on. We have come a long way since the days when Harvey Milk and I fought against the discrimination of the Briggs Initiative and Proposition 8 was no different. Harvey’s message then was one of hope and we can see how that message is making progress throughout the country – five states now embrace marriage equality and several more are on the verge.
History has shown that equality cannot be denied to any group and it is only a matter of time before justice prevails. I encourage the supporters of same sex marriage to engage in peaceful, focused actions and we will transform the anger that is felt today into a successful message of political change. The decision today only strengthens my commitment and resolve to restore equality for all Californians.”
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