Anti H-8 Emotions Continue to Run Deep
In a scene reminiscent of civil and labor rights marches of the 60's, the words "As sure as we're standing here today, the State of California will come to uphold and recognize the rights of same sex couples to marry" rang out over the crowd of people gathered in front of Colton Hall in Monterey. The words were those of State Assembly Member Bill Monning who spoke into a megaphone and to which the crowd cheered. The occasion was a rally, one of many across the state, to demonstrate displeasure with the recent passage of Proposition 8, which amends the California State Constitution to in affect, ban same-sex marriage.
For a city the size of Monterey, which never seemed to muster more than a couple hundred anti-war protesters at any one place and time over the past six years, the event at which many hundreds of gay civil rights supporters amassed was phenomenal. The megaphone saw plenty of action the day of this event as a number of speakers addressed the amassed crowd including Michele Welsch who is Chair of the Monterey County ACLU Legal Committee, and who has emerged as a leader in the local movement to secure gay civil rights. Ms. Welsch made use of the megaphone to announce the filing of a lawsuit which challenges Proposition 8 as unlawfully revising the states constitution. Other speakers included the Rev. G. F. (Jeff) Kohn of St James Episcopal Church, Monterey County NAACP President William Zeigler, former Airport Board Candidate Dan Pressor, and ACLU Chapter Board Member Ryan Hundly.
After the speeches, the crowd staged a peaceful march through the streets of downtown Monterey. It was an impressive sight to see the march stretch out several city blocks in length with protesters carrying signs and chanting slogans in unison. |
