Movement
In the six-plus years I've been in L.A. never have I lived through such an exciting and emotional week. I, along with countless friends, coworkers and acquaintances, cheered and celebrated Barack Obama's victory on Tuesday night. There was a feeling that this country was finally entering a new era, one filled with hope and much-needed unity. However, the joy was short-lived when it was announced on the following morning that Proposition 8 had been passed, allowing the state Constitution to be amended and discriminate against same-sex couples, banning marriage as their civil (read: human) right (*Note: this is after the State Supreme Court had made it legal; never in the history of America has a constitutional amendment been written to discriminate against a group of citizens).
I wanted to show you, my readers - especially those of you on the East Coast - what it's been like living in Los Angeles for the past several days in the aftermath of such a historic and life-changing development. I've managed to collect some photos from those who stormed the boulevards throughout this sprawled-out city, stopping traffic for miles, bringing this city to a standstill that, for once, didn't involve petty fender-benders or "sig alerts".
I realize I am experiencing a movement the magnitude of which I had only read about in history books...and I couldn't be any happier to be a part of it.
I'll keep this relatively short, because I truly feel some of these images can speak for themselves and convey what my words cannot:
Sunset Boulevard never looked so beautiful:
Heading into Westwood Village:
The movement beginning on Wednesday night:
And it doesn't stop there. The city is now anticipating 20,000 people to gather in the Silverlake area on Saturday and in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday to continue their protests and express their outrage.
Proudly fighting hate and inequality,
H.P.M.
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