Champaign Urbana Rallies to protest Proposition 8
Submitted by Marti Wilkinson on November 17, 2008 - 7:40pm
2008-11-17
Facing the cold and the wind protesters gathered in opposition to Proposition 8 on November 15, 2008 in Champaign/Urbana Illinois. Standing on the four corners of Green and Wright street participants shouted “Stop the hate. Stop the hate. Separate the church and state.” People carried signs proclaiming “Love knows no gender” and “You don’t have to be gay to believe in equal rights.”
One of the event organizers Brooke Elliott, President of L-Cubed (Ladies loving Ladies) said, “We are here today because prop 8 was passed in California which will put a ban on gay marriages and everyone has a right to marry.” According to Elliott the event is also a way for Champaign/Urbana to show support for protests taking place across the nation.
University of Illinois Sophomore William Leone noted that Proposition 8 wasn’t the only amendment which passed on Election Day. Leone came out to support the protest and said that, along with California, both Florida and Arizona had passed similar measures. Leone also mentioned that in Arizona voters passed a law which bans adoption by unmarried couples.
Holding a “Freedom for All. Freedom to Marry” sign Urbana resident Joe Futrelle said he considered taking the rights of people to get married to be unconstitutional. Champaign resident Steve Ammidown said, “As an ally I need to show my support on behalf of people who struggle for a basic civil right.” People driving cars through the intersection also showed their support by honking their horns.
There was a note of dissent from a passerby who shouted out “You Suck!” to the protesters. Curious customers leaving one of the corner businesses would ask what was going on and quickly walk away upon finding out what the protest was about.
This did not deter the people who came out to champion marriage rights for everyone. Supporters shouted “What do we want? Equal Rights! When do we want it? Now!” and Champaign resident Adrienne Phelps-Coco remarked that “Since the election there is such a feeling of hope and progress [yet] we have a long way to go for civil right.” The nationwide efforts on Saturday affirmed the ongoing efforts and struggles by advocates for GLBT rights.
It's not a proposition
Hey Guys,
It is not a proposition, it is part of the California constitution. The voters decided on it for a second time this month. The gays in California have to live with it or move. They really do not do good when they attack a little old lady, steal her cross, and stomp on it. Really bad publicity.
Fables
No one has to move. No one should be denied the basic human rights to satisfy the bigotry of others. I've heard no reports of anyone attacking little old ladies, let alone stomping on crosses.
I wonder what anon 1:06 is smoking?
The measure which passed in California is called Proposition 8 and referring to it as such is perfectly proper and appropriate.
In regards to the allegations of a "little old lady" being attacked this is what I found. A 69 year old supporter of Proposition 8 went to a rally in Florida carrying a HUGE paper mache cross. According to news reports this is not the first time she has attended the protests and while the paper mache cross did get damaged no one attacked her. I actually saw a video of this on You Tube and see no indication that this woman was harmed. Someone in the crowd did knock the cross out of her hand, but she was not assaulted.
As for the bad publicity it generated - my response is that every group is going to have it's share of idiots. To suggest the actions of a few protesters is representative of a group is faulty reasoning. That is about as logical as suggesting that all actors and actresses have the potential to be presidential assassins after John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln.
There are ways to engage in peaceful protest and counter-protest and it's often best that each group is given their own space in which to express their viewpoints. In the case of the elderly woman she walked right into the middle of the group and proceeded to engage in actions that can be interpreted as disruptive. Let me be very clear, I do not condone the cross being knocked out of her hands, but I don't see her actions as being completely innocent as well.
Democracy in action
In a democratic society the government implements the will of the people. The people made their will known on proposition 8. You wanted democracy and you got it.
Simpleton Says vs Reality
That's quaint. Did you manage to get your high school diploma without passing the government class?
A real democracy protects the rights of minorities, as well as paying attention to the majority. A real democracy does not deny a minority the rights granted to most.
There are significant questions about whether the initiative does not, in itself, abrogate the rights granted by other parts of the California constitution, as the California Supreme Court has already determined. I suspect that there will be more to this story than what those who traffic in hate would prefer.
Above all, it is disturbing and pathetic that some feel necessary to attack the rights of others in the name of the people. This digs at and cuts the roots of freedom and liberty of every citizen in California and elsewhere.
Congratulations on being a bigot.
A Simpletons Response
Actually I was pointing out how democracy is flawed in that it doesn't protect the rights of the individual because it allows those rights to be voted away. And that those who blindly follow democracy should stop and realize that it is based on majority rule and not the rights of the individual. At no point did I express my views on gay rights/marriage. Personally I believe gay people have as much a right to get married as does anyone else. Maybe next time you should ask what someone's view on an issue actually is before you insult their education, insinuate that they "traffic in hate", and call them a bigot.
Muddled Arguments Often Conceal Bigotry
Whatever.
There was nothing in your post to indicate that you intended
to say anything other than that readers should just accept the diminution of
the rights of some in the name of democracy. Others have only what you write to go on.Given the subject matter, clarity in a position posed only against vaguely worded comments can lead to the assumption I made. I'm still not clear what your point is.
I think my reading of it was a fair one, based on what you wrote. Or did you intend to simply make a vague comment about something else tangential to this discussion?
Am I supposed to now assume that you intended to communicate
that you don’t think much of democracy? I'm not sure that's an improvement.
Unless you write clearly that you oppose bigotry, your
inaction, lack of clarity or failure to communicate what you actually intend will
lead others to conclude that you’re buying into the ugly arguments that support
the work of bigots.
Democracy
You both fail.
As Heinlein said, "Democracy is four wolves and a sheep voting on dinner."
Fortunately, we do not live in a democracy -- we live in a republic, where the rights of the minority are supposed to be protected from the majority. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work the way it's supposed to. Gender discrimination is alive and well despite laws against it.
Ben said it better
As Ben Franklin said, "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
It's time America stops worshiping at the alter of voting and returns to the ideas of individual liberty and freedom. If we can ever do that then maybe fundamental rights, like the freedom to marry whom ever you choose, can be returned to the people and we can all live the lives we want without having to check with the goverment and our neighbors first to see if its ok with them.
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