Greensboro NC Prop H8 Protest - link to pix

[RedLetterRev]

Thanks to Mike Gilbert, the Greensboro component of the nationwide protest against Proposition H8 in California was an astounding success. Over 300 people gathered on short notice from all walks of life: the religious and non-religious; gay, lesbian, straight, curious, transgendered, undeclared or uncommitted. Everyone there was for the same purpose — to speak out against the very dangerous precedent of removing existing civil rights from any class or group of people.

Rhythmic support was provided by Cakalak Thunder who have been serving the streets of the southeast, North Carolina, and Greensboro since 2002. As they warmed the crowd up, folks began to dance and celebrate their own suchness in the midst of celebratory rhythm.

I have a load of pictures up on my journal. Both HillbillyBob and I were taking pix, explaining the different thumbnail sizes. Click on any of the thumbnails to see a full-sized image. I'm housing them there to save DU bandwidth because I'm pretty sure that pix will be coming in from all over pretty soon.

The dude in the tab shirt with his arm around the dude in the blue shirt -- that's me and HillbillyBob, the love of my life. The little black dog with him is Dora, the Wonderdog, his seizure-alert assistant (our eldest "daughter").

[bbernardini]

1. I believe a good friend of mine from high school is involved in Cakalak Thunder.

I'll have to see if she was there today.

[RedLetterRev]

2. The video isn't so good

since I took just a small clip with my phone, but I did put a link to their site on my journal page. Y'oughtta go see! They rawk!

[littlebit]

3. We were amazed by how many people showed up on such short notice.

By the way we were standing right beside you when you shot that video.

[RedLetterRev]

5. Next time poke me in the shoulder

and say HEY!!

Everyone was SO NICE. Did you catch the GSO police honking their horns every time the folks on the street did? I thought that was awesome. They weren't watching us -- they were watching over us. HillbillyBob and I marvelled at that all the way home. We've lived in places where the police were not our friends and would have taken the whole crowd in "on suspicion" of thinking gay thoughts. We were also pleased and amazed at all the hetero couples who came with their kids and how many kids were supportive.

Wow.

You can tell I come from a different time. Not that long ago, it would have been an entirely different outcome to the day. But today... today, I feel loved and respected, no matter what the nutcase right want to push.

P|$$ on them. They're irrelevant and they're beginning to figure that out. I'll do everything I can to help them on their way.

[littlebit]

6. Next time we will now that I know you are a fellow DUer.

We thought the whole thing was great. We were also amazed at the police response and the hetero couples who came out. It was a nice way to celebrate our 9th anniversary.

[GreenInNC]

4. I was at Charlotte one

Very good crowd, several news trucks

[RedLetterRev]

7. Only Fox8 showed up in GSO

we were otherwise ignored. I didn't see what they did to the reporting. I passed by Ms Reporter several times and she patently ignored me. I had a notebook full of talking points ready (thanks, fellow DUers!), but, ah-well. She didn't even bother with the coordinator who deserved an immense amount of credit for pulling that many people together on short notice with absolutely zero resources or assistance. Now that Mike's got one success under his belt, he's ready to kick butt. He's got us for a network now and a fist full of numbers and email addresses. Loogout fundyland, heh!

[RedLetterRev]

10. Correction

I just saw a clip on WXII-12. Mike Gilbert was interviewed, and the piece was actually positive. Good shots.

They don't have vid on their site, but here's the story.

Edit: Add the link to the story.

[Maat]

8. That was AWESOME drumming!

Great pictures, too.

Thanks for the post.

[RedLetterRev]

9. My partner got their card

if anyone on DU needs to contact them. In time this post will sink like a rock into the archives. Cakalak Thunder participates anytime there is an action -- for women, minorities, minimum wage, LGBTQ, you name it, they put their hearts and drums into it. They are absolutely da bomb! They kept it going the whole time; they were at it when we got there a little after one and they were still going strong when we left a little after four. Folks where dancing, stepping, clapping, whooping along with them; they really have spirit and it showered all over us.

Bookmark their site, Tarheel folk, and show them some love.

The pix were easy. I love my new phone. I take wedding pix with it all the time. Bluetooth is a wonderful thing. HillbillyBob took the most (the ones that are more tall than wide). That was the very first vid I took with my new PocketPC phone and my first YouTube ever. Had to buy the real Quicktime thingie to convert it. I'm learning as I go (the blond leading the blind method LOL).

Glad it worked out :D

[Maat]

11. Way cool (nt)!