Prop 8 protesters blocking traffic in California
May 26, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO — Hundreds of people, protesting the State Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a ban on same-sex marriage, have formed a human blockade at Van Ness Avenue and Grove Street, shutting down traffic and causing disruptions on Muni bus lines.
A large crowd—both for and against same-sex marriage—began gathering outside of the state courthouse on McAllister Street near the City Civic Plaza early this morning to await the court’s decision, which was announced just after 10 a.m.
Following the announcement, which upheld Proposition 8 by a 6-1 count, same-sex marriage groups moved to the streets, forming a chain across Van Ness Avenue that numbers about 400 people, according to eyewitness reports.
Police were anticipating large gatherings following the decision, and had dispatched officers and barricades near the McAllister Street courthouse earlier this morning, according to department spokeswoman Sgt. Lyn Tomioka.
As of 10:30 a.m., officers were surrounding the protestors, although no effort has been made yet to break up the gathering, eyewitnesses said. Police are directing traffic around from the scene.
The gathering has disrupted service in both directions on four Muni bus lines—the 49-Van Ness, 47-Mission, and 21-Hayes, according to department spokesman Judson True.
Proposition 8, passed by 52 percent of California’s voters in November, was a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in the state. Today’s decision rejected an appeal of the ban, but it did validate the 18,000 marriages that took place while same-sex marriage was briefly legal in California, following an earlier state decision in May.
