Silent artists make a statement against hate
We are inspired. We are involved. We are passionate. We care. And it’s everywhere.
On Saturday night, my good friend Chase (who is also on the No on 8 Finance Committee) met me for a drink in West Hollywood. We met so that we could discuss the fundraising event that we want to put together on Friday, October 3rd for the No on 8 campaign. Together, we’ve raised about $12,000 and ideally want to make it an even $20K before the November 4th election. As we are chatting about our work on No on 8, a girl neither of us know happens to overhear us. She tells us that she has a demonstration planned for No on 8 on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Her name is Kristen.
When we heard about what she and her friends were doing, it was inspiring. We made the decision to drive across town to support the effort and see if we could raise some money for the campaign. They had it all covered and definitely didn’t need our help- it was so well organized.
The protest group painted various signs with sayings such as “I am straight and I oppose Prop 8.” They set up the banner at the end of the Promenade and then staged various scenes in frozen animation to support the sayings above their head. They dressed simply- blue jeans and white shirts. And their message was black and white with popping RED statements. It was quiet. And powerful. And effective.
I met a girl named Amy who had literally just landed here to work on the No on 8 campaign after moving to LA from Maryland. There, she had been working on a campaign to ensure Transgender rights and when that was complete (because the courts ruled in their favor) she moved directly across country. She didn’t know ANYONE and is actually couch-surfing and renting a car while she gets settled. Go Amy!!!
Also on the promenade- a group of folks registering voters and spreading the Obama love. They’d been there for hours and shared with me that just while sitting on the promenade that weekend, they’d raised over $2,000 and registered over 100 voters. Their signs were in multiple languages, their ages were different, their ethnicities were different… it was just beautiful.
There is a definite camaraderie amongst volunteers right now. We share our dedication and therefore share an understanding. We know that we are all unemployed and making no money… but that we still HAVE to give something. That we are being fulfilled and we are being terrified and excited by being involved right now. I just love it.
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