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by ANSWER Coalition
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008 at 2:57 PM
answerla@answerla.org 213-251-1025 137 N. Virgil Ave, #201, Los Angeles
Over 20,000 people came from all over Southern California to unite with a single voice to demand civil rights and marriage equality. It was one of the largest--possibly the single largest--pro-LGBT rally in Los Angeles' history. The rally was initiated and led by the ANSWER Coalition and the L.A. Coalition for Equal Marriage Rights.
3017184360_33faaaac97_o.jpg, image/jpeg, 720x480
20,000+ People March in L.A. To Demand
"Overturn Prop. 8!"
Historic March for LGBT Rights Takes the Streets
On Saturday, November 8, a
historic march against the passage of
California
’s
discriminatory Proposition 8 filled the streets of
Silver
Lake
and
Hollywood
in Los Angeles. Over
20,000 people came from all over
Southern California
to unite with a single voice to demand
civil rights and marriage equality.
It was one of the largest--possibly the single largest--pro-LGBT rally in Los
Angeles' history. The rally was initiated and led by the ANSWER Coalition and
the L.A. Coalition for Equal Marriage Rights. The event was organized in
only three days with dozens of volunteer activists working 18-hour days, all to
make the event a success.
In the days before, thousands of LGBT people and their allies had taken to the
streets to decry the passage of Prop. 8. Protesters marched on CNN, the Mormon
Temple and held spontaneous demonstrations in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, San
Diego and throughout the state.
At
6 p.m. on Saturday, thousands of people had already arrived at Sunset Junction
for the protest and march, entirely blocking all of busy Sunset Blvd. Sunset
Junction has great significance for the LGBT struggle. In 1967, two years before
Stonewall, the LGBT community rebelled against constant police harassment and
bigoted raids on gay bars. Just minutes later, the rally kicked off, chaired by
Carlos Alvarez and Peta Lindsay, youth organizers with the ANSWER Coalition. The
first speakers were Robin Tyler and Diane Olson, the first same-sex couple to
marry legally in California. Other speakers included community leaders, out
lesbian candidate for California State Assembly, Lucilla Esguerra; National
Lawyers Guild-LA leader Jim Lafferty; ANSWER Coordinator Preston Wood; General
Hospital star Nancy Lee Grahn; West Hollywood mayor Jeffery Prang; and other
same-sex couples and equal rights activists.
The speakers denounced bigoted Prop. 8 and vowed to continue the struggle until
all marriage rights are restored and LGBT equality is won. They denounced the
ongoing attempts to divide the LGBT community from people of color and
immigrants, and stressed the importance of unity.
Rally co-chair Lindsay, a graduate of Howard University, said, "The
right-wing is trying to keep our communities divided. We can't let that happen.
We all suffer discrimination and we must make common cause to struggle against
the true enemy--wealthy institutions and outlets that spread bigotry. No one
should be scapegoated. An injury to one is an injury to all!"
By the time the march stepped off at 6:45 p.m., 20,000 people were in the middle
of the streets of Los Angeles. The crowd was very diverse and reflected the wide
spectrum of people in the LGBT community: Latino, Black, Asian, white and
others. The march filled the enormous span of Santa Monica Blvd., and then
Vermont Ave. and Sunset Blvd as it twisted through L.A. It measured at least 5
blocks from beginning to end and was densely packed with people. It was a lively
march carrying message of anger and hope. People chanted loudly and pumped their
fists in the air, "Gay, straight, Black, white--marriage is a civil
right," and "What do we want? Equality! When? Now!"
Local,
National & International Media Coverage
All the major national
and local media--TV, print and radio--covered Saturday's Los Angeles mass
protest. From CNN to Good Morning America, organizers and participants were
interviewed. The lead cover photo and story in Sunday's L.A. Times was about the
march. Our message was heard not only in the United States, but also in Europe,
Central America and Asia, as major international outlets covered the event.
Click
here to read the L.A. Times cover story on the Nov. 8 "Overturn 8"
Protest.
All major outlets
described thousands or tens of thousands of people marching. This was correct. By
all organizer and independent estimates, well over 20,000 people marched. At
the same time, 10,000 people marched against Prop. 8 in San Diego. One day
earlier, 15,000 people protested in San Francisco. The wave against Prop. 8 is
building and the struggle is sure to intensify and take different forms in the
future.
After
the march returned to Sunset Junction, ANSWER
organizer Carlos Alvarez said to the crowd, "Los Angeles
has never seen anything like this before. The outrage at having rights stripped
away was channeled into a mass protest filled with hope and sentiment for
continued struggle. The LGBT movement and its allies will continue to move
forward with more protests, mass actions, speak outs, sit-ins, town hall
meetings and so much more. Tonight, the people truly have spoken--in the
streets. Prop. 8 will be overturned and we are certain that we will win.”
Click
here to volunteer in the grassroots campaign to overturn Prop. 8.
Click
here for more photos and video from the Nov. 8 protest.
Photos by Kelly Wine and Marcial Guerra.
Donate
to ANSWER's Work Today
Please
consider donating to ANSWER to keep the movement going strong. We incurred
thousands of dollars in expenses in the few days before the event. Donate online
by clicking the button below or call 213-251-1025.
Overturn Prop. 8! Marriage
equality now! No to homophobia, sexism and racism!
--------------------------------------------------
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War and End Racism
213-251-1025
http://www.answerla.org
answerla@answerla.org
137 N. Virgil Ave., #201
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Join us at ANSWER meetings - contact us to get involved!
www.answerla.org
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by ANSWER Coalition
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008 at 2:57 PM
answerla@answerla.org 213-251-1025 137 N. Virgil Ave, #201, Los Angeles
3017184040_e78bbbd977_o.jpg, image/jpeg, 720x480
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www.answerla.org
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