Eleven hours and two protests later - pic heavy

[KitchenWitch]

I attended the Saddleback Church protest this morning and have a ton of photos. I am posting a few here.

I also participated in a protest in Rancho Santa Margarita this evening, but did not take pictures because it was dark out.

I estimate that at the height of the Saddleback protest there were between 700 and 800 people there. It was really an energizing experience.


My daughter holding the sign under the "Saddleback Church" sign.


A UNIQUE use of the Yes on 8 sign...I am told he has a matching skirt :D


The crowd crossing Portola Parkway


Me sitting down by the curb


One of three counterprotesters

The Orange County Sheriffs Department had a very strong presence and I felt safe the entire time. The news crews from Channel 7 (ABC) and Channel 4 (NBC) were also there.

I am tired, but I feel so good.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Why do you hate AMERIKA? Pro gay rights? Pro choice?

I mean, Kitchy, c'mon.

Good on ya, darlin'. Good on ya.


:loveya:

[KitchenWitch]

10. Next thing you know they might call me a librul!

:D

[flvegan]

2. Awesome. Really outnumbered the BIGOTS there today.

Thanks for posting these!

[KitchenWitch]

11. It was really great

Especially watching folks roll up their car windows...I think they were afraid they would catch 'teh gay'.

[Duncan Grant]

3. Thank you! I wish we had 500,000 more just like you.

:yourock:

[KitchenWitch]

12. Well, please know that I stand with all of you.

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. Great job KW!

I went to Silverlake last night. HUGE crowd.

[KitchenWitch]

5. I wish I had felt up to going to that one!

:hi:

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. Hey, we do what we can

OC was a bit out of range for me.

[KitchenWitch]

7. You are in the SF Valley, right?

OC is an ETERNITY away...

[Webster Green]

8. Keep the protests up till the churches lose their tax exempt status..

Gather every scrap of evidence that proves they are violating the rules. Crush them in the courts! :mad:

[KitchenWitch]

13. I will be writing my letter to the IRS, etc about both the Roman Catholic and Mormon Churches

[xchrom]

9. recommend

[KitchenWitch]

14. Thank you!

:hi:

[xchrom]

16. i quite simply adore you. nt

[Hekate]

15. Thanks for reporting in, KW. Prop H8 WILL NOT STAND--we, the people of California, will take it down

This is a setback only, not the end of the story by a long shot.

Hekate

[KitchenWitch]

17. Agreed. I will stand and fight until it is taken down.

[Maat]

18. I was in San Diego on Saturday!

Thanks for these photos.

Mine did not come out, but here is one over at the San Diego Union Tribune:



Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20081109-9999-1m9protest.html - we had 7,000 to 10,000 there. My feet are still tired today! It was a two-miler through downtown San Diego. Everyone was SO cool, and there were many supporters of the GLBTQ community there (myself and Beloved Daughter included).

We must fight hard against the California constitution being used to eliminate rights, for whose rights are they going to come after next? And, what rights? Bullies never stop, until you make them.

In Solidarity,

[KitchenWitch]

22. I really wish that we could have had at least 1000 at the Saddleback Church one

Especially since Saddleback has such national 'notoriety'.

[Maat]

26. Yes, I'll never forget receiving a copy of Warren's book in the mail (unsolicited).

About six years ago, my in-laws, Nana and Papa, moved back to Oklahoma, and became rabid Southern Baptist (and hardright) nutballs. Hubby and his sister had been raised in California. My in-laws were following Hubby's sis and her husband, who were after a job.

Well, they all loved Warren back there, and I received that stupid book, which I promptly donated without even reading but a few words.

I was furious when I found out that he had endoresed Prop. 8, which I regard as a ruinous blight on my beloved state constitution. I will see it gone if it takes the rest of my life!

I'm glad you guys made what I consider to be a great showing.

[cboy4]

35. Yay Maat!!

:loveya:

[NMMNG]

19. Nice!

And thanks for being there.

We were in San Jose today. It was supposed to be a grieve/kvetch/plan meeting but it turned into an impromptu march on the city. We even made the channel 7 news.

I particularly liked one guy's ensemble of shredded "Yes on 8" signs on a stick. There was also a woman holding a sign that said "Defeat the Mormon Taliban". Tomorrow night we'll be at the MCC in San Jose (coincidentally across from a Mormon mission center) for a candlelight vigil. There should be pics and/or video afterward on the blog(s).

[KitchenWitch]

23. I look forward to the photos/videos

:hi:

[bluedawg12]

20. Thank you KW for doing this for all of us

even if some of us are out of state and can't be there, we are here in support.

I also read about the saddlesore cult protest and how the 1,000 bigots sat inside while people outside honked in support of the anti P8 rally.

[KitchenWitch]

24. Do you have a link to that story?

[Jamastiene]

21. It is great to know you are on our side.

I wouldn't have it any other way. :hug:

[KitchenWitch]

25. ...

:hug:

[KitchenWitch]

27. One more photo - I did not take this one

But she hid behind her sign as soon as I yelled to her that it was unchristian to flip us off.

[Zuiderelle]

28. Oh niiiiiice. Good response from you.

And thanks for doing this!

[jesus_of_suburbia]

29. Thank you so much, KitchenWitch! Love the pics! n/t

[KitchenWitch]

30. Glad to share them

[Mike 03]

31. You are totally awesome

I wish I had your courage.

[KitchenWitch]

33. Just knowing I am not alone is all the courage I need.

:hug:

[Fran Kubelik]

32. Thank you KW!

:hug:

[KitchenWitch]

34. ...

:hug:

[David__77]

36. Keep up the good work!

We're all trying hard to keep the pressure on!

[cboy4]

37. I hope you know how much this means to me.

:loveya:

Thank you so much.