Here are some shots taken wednesday night at the Proposition 8 protest rallies in West Hollywood and Hollywood. These pics were taken by Paco. We got there at about 8pm, and there were several thousands rallying in front of the design cener in the heart of WEHO.
Soon thereafter, a group of about 700 broke away and began heading to the CNN tower on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. Paco followed that crowd, and snapped many of these pics.
Dave, Ryan, and I stayed behind with the main throng and presently the group got tense and ugly. one guy was wrestled to the street, as he was blocking a metro bus. There were helecopters everywhere. It was amazing. Ryan and I took his car and attempted to beat a second throng which had also broken off, heading for Hollywood and CNN. I’m still not sure what heir intent was. Perhaps to shove Larry king out of his sudio window, maybe? At any event, we parked in the lot just adjacent to the CNN building and all was very quiet. The rioters were nowhere to be found. What we did find, on that side street, were abut 12 police riot cars. just ahead of them, standing at attention 3 abreast in the street, were the riot police.They were replete with helmets,shields, and clubs.
All of them, just …standing silently there.
Ryan was off snapping pics and I ventured forth on the side walk towards Sunset blvd. …a ghostly abandoned Sunset Blvd. All traffic in the area had been diverted. It was just me and the riot police, quiet and still as statues. and silence. waiting.
I looked at them. They looked at me. nobody spoke. I thought to myself ‘What would be an appropriate ice breaker here?’
There was none. So Ryan rejoined me, after wisely electing to refrain from snapping pics of the riot cops. We discovered that evidently the main throng had already been and gone, and the police were braced for the 2nd group, which was making its way up Sunset Blvd, probably terrorising innocent celebrties and the local slacker phonistas. Just then, our stalwart riot police got in their cars and zoom zoom zoom – one after the other they sped away down the empty boulevard. That night, Sunset Blvd lived down to it’s moniker of the ‘Boulevard of broken dreams’ … only now it was the boulevard of broken dreams for homos who’s rights have been ripped away.
The Mormon and Catholic churches have hurt me and mine. they must pay. They must lose their tax exempt status. You cannot be allowed to use the political system as a club to beat down those you choose to oppress and not face reprisals.
GOD DAMN the Mormons
GOD DAMN the cathaholics
MORMONS…THERE’S ONE TOO MANY “M’s’” IN THAT NAME
here are some more pics, thanks to Paco. Paco rules! (and of course he’s damn hot, too)
Rest well, my friend. be at peace.
