Anti-proposition 8 rally Sta. Barbara/heroes rally

by Leni

Tue, May 26, 2009 7:45PM

Several hundred people gathered in the interior plaza of the Sant Barbara courthouse at 6pm May 26th for a quickly organized marriage equality rally following the negative state supreme court decision this morning. This allowed the slim majority vote supporting proposition 8 to stand. While marriage contracts signed during the period of legality will remain valid, it is clear that lasting rights for any pair of people to sign a marriage contract will require a ballot initiative reversal of the new lines in the state constitution.

A few blocks away at this hour, the city held a 'Thank you, heroes' rally, thanking the 4000+ firefighters who recently were sent to fight the Jesusita fire at the edge of the city. Families looked at the equipment displayed by a variety of first responders and law enforcement.

original image (3264x2448)

For a rally called on such short notice after the 10am announcement of the results of the court challenge, there was an impressive turnout of several hundred people at 6pm, for a city of about 90,000 population. More people continued to flood the plaza, which was shielded from direct view from the road, as I needed to leave. Local politicians such as Hannah Beth jackson, clergy, and prominent activists made statements.

At the nearby city event to thank the firefighters, a broad list of law enforcement agencies, national forest firefighters and so forth. They really did deserve thanks for saving homes, as on many of the roads on the wildland interface, they were able to prevent fires at many houses while yards and surrounding landscape all burned. While a few dozen houses burned, they saved millions in property value.

§300 people at very start of rally

by Leni

Tue, May 26, 2009 7:45PM