UIS students lead protest over Proposition 8

Election night chaos not in tune with Obama's message

November 19, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, IL — At 12:30PM 160 activists met at the Illinois Supreme Court Library to rally against hateful ballot initiatives passed on Nov. 4, 2008 in Arkansas, Arizona, California, and Florida as part of the “Join the Impact – Fight the H8!” protests happening simultaneously across the nation. The rally began with community organizers Bret Tate and Renee Rathjen leading the crowd in chants such as; “Love is Great. No on 8!” and “What do we want? MARRIAGE EQUALITY! When do we want it? NOW!”.

Continuing their chants, the crowd marched down Capitol Ave. toward the Old State Capitol with supporters joining along the way.Advocates for equality of all ages came from Macomb, Galesburg, Chicago, and even Los Angeles. Folks came armed with signs, bullhorns, buttons, and even their California issued marriage licenses.

Rathjen says, “I am impressed by the true grassroots nature of this national protest, community organizers around the nation volunteered to organize rallies in their hometowns before it was on the radar of national advocacy groups. This protest is about much more than marriage to me; it is about LGBTQ Americans refusing to be treated as second class citizens and about our community reconnecting with each other and our allies and engaging in direct action.”

Photos courtesy of Bret Tate