LAPD braces for Prop. 8 protest in West L.A., vows to be prepared*

More than 3,000 protesters marched near the landmark Los Angeles California Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Westwood today to protest the church's strong support for Proposition 8. Santa Monica Boulevard is closed and nearby traffic is gridlocked.

Opponents of Proposition 8, which outlawed gay marriage in California, were waving banners and chanting. A similar protests occurred on Wednesday night in Hollywood and West Hollywood.

Los Angeles Police Department officials say they won't be caught off-guard as they were last night, when they were required to call a tactical alert after a few members of the mostly peaceful crowd got out of hand. The protest is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. off Santa Monica Boulevard.

In the wake of the passage of the state proposition banning gay marriage, Wednesday night saw thousands protest in West Hollywood and Hollywood, forcing police to shut down some streets and the LAPD to call a citywide tactical alert that required officers from one watch to stay on duty during the next watch.

At least seven people were arrested, four at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland, where one man jumped on top of a police car. Television cameras captured one protester struggling with officers and being struck on the legs by batons.

The Mormon temple is apparently being targeted because of church members' funding and support of the proposition.

* Update: Another protest is planned for later this afternoon in West Hollywood near the Pacific Design Center. The MTA says streets will be closed and buses rerouted. Details from the MTA statement:

Metro has received word that there will be additional Prop. 8 demonstrations this afternoon and evening and [L.A. County Sheriff's Department]  will be closing San Vicente from Melrose to Santa Monica Boulevard starting at 4 p.m. until the streets are cleared, which could go into the late evening. There will be no traffic including buses allowed to go north on San Vicente.  During this time, Metro will need to reroute buses to Robertson to go north and then east on Santa Monica Blvd.

**Update 2: Metro corrected their earlier statement, saying the Sheriff's Department currently has "no formal plan to close San Vicente Boulevard between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue this evening."

-- Richard Winton and Rong-Gong Lin II

Photo credit: Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[james]

See Mormons? See! This is what happens when you push your wacky beliefs into everyone's private lives!

[Blue]

That sure makes sense -- blame those wacky Mormons. I get it, they are an easy target -- and their temple is in an affluent part of town. I dare these guys to do their protest at the First A.M.E. Church. African-Americans voted by a 40 point margin (70% to 30%) in favor of Prop. 8. It was their support that put this over the top.

[Blue]

By the way, it's the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints. Not Church of the Latter-day Saints. The difference matters to Mormons.

[Todd Clem]

An oppressed group need look to other oppressed groups to see how they managed protests and organized civil disobedience. Coordinated protests that can draw media attention and be effective without violence or idiots running off on there own would provide a clear message without having the majority of people who voted against them nodding there head at the tv showing idiots running off on there own proving there point. Organization is required, I would love to see the churches catholic, Mormon, etc. completely surrounded on a Sunday preventing services take the fight to those that fought you ruining someones drive home who voted with you can quickly backfire.

[Dave]

I am still waiting for someone to show me one right the gays lost because they can't marry. Marriage itself is NOT a right. Gays still have ALL the legal benefits and then some. The only thing they can't do is use the term marriage when they form relationships together. They can't refer to the relationship as a marriage. Big deal. They have EVERYTHING else. Why do they insist on ruining what thousands of years of traditional marriage means (for everyone else) just so they can be called "married".
The ONLY reason for such a desire (to be called "married") is to be accepted by the non-gay community. Except for the name, Domestic Partnerships give gays the same rights as anyone else. That's why GAYS DON'T NEED TO BE MARRIED. It's just not necessary.
The people decided. Having a rally is fine, but don't get violent and don't vandalize property. The sore losers that are going after the LDS church for this loss are miss directed and are hurting their cause in the long run. I have respect for gays, but I won't have respect for anyone who resorts to violence just because they don't like the outcome of the election.

[busytimmy]

Hey Blue, we will confront this bigoted and discriminatory amendment wherever necessary. Prop 8 has stained our constitution and jeopardized equal protection for all of California's citizens. May the wisdom of our supreme court prevail and may freedom for all again reign in our great state. Stay cool protesters!! The police are not our enemy!

[BroadCoalition]

I wonder if the protests will target any other groups who contributed to Prop 8. Catholic churches, Evangelical churches, Jewish groups, African American neighborhoods... Probably not.

[BroadCoalition]

Wacky beliefs? I guess most Americans, a majority of the New York Supreme Court, almost half of the California Supreme Court, and most countries in Europe and the world hold the same wacky beliefs.

[kylewestla45]

It makes perfect sense to target the mormons. Youre obviously misinformed. A majority of the YES on 8 campaign was directly funded the the church. The campaign spewed lies and misinformation directed at minority communities in order to gain support for the proposition.

I thought lying was a sin? The mormon LIED and broke one of their own commandments. SHAME on you.

[JM]

Wow, this sort of protest seems to make the points of the Yes on Prop 8 crowd. No wonder religious people feared that gay marriage would threaten their rights. Seem like the wrong tactic. But shoot yourself in the foot if you wish.

[Tim]

The supporters of Prop. 8 successfully convinced voters that children would be affected by same-sex marriage. Unfortunately, more children will be affected now that this discrimatory initiative has passed. Even if legal challenges succeed, the implication that a majority of people do not support gay rights will have a profound impact on children, likely making matters worse for children who are gay, transgendered, or questioning their sexuality. According to a U.S. government study, youth who fit this category are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other young people (Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide). Those are the facts. Passing this initiative has affected a lot more young people than defeating it would have.

This election was more than just marriage, as the Yes On 8 campaign liked to tout. Indeed, this was about equality. And moreover, it was about teaching young people tolerance. And California, you failed.

It's a sad day and age when Canada is more progressive than California.

[Ken P.]

Unfortunately, this type of protest only reinforces the opposition to gay marriage. But Obama and the black community owe gays on this issue. Otherwise, why should gays support the Democratic party?

[FightOn]

Let the taxing of all churches begin; the lines have been drawn between reality and fanatsy. Reality; gay EQUAL RIGHTS have been taken away; FANTASY pray to your god; that he comes and rescuse you from you very own stupidity.

[L.A. Times Copy Desk]

Many thanks to reader Blue for catching the error. We've updated the post with the correct name of the church.

[jake]

I fell in love with a brazilian girl, and we're getting a k1 visa to get her into the country for the purpose of marriage, then green card and eventually dual citizenship, show me one gay person who can do that
plus haven't we learned yet that separate is inherently unequal? are we really doing this all over again?

[Valentina]

Hey Blue,

The Mormons were the major funders of the pro-8 initiative ($20Million last I heard) --it wasn't a random choice to protest at their temple.

And there should be protests at Knights of Columbus halls, too, since they also gave big money.

[Lola C]

I think that it is terribly sad that this passed. No matter what anyone says the bases of this all is that it is two human beings wanting to be "Married", to make a vow to one another, to live their lives as a couple in lawful union no matter their Gender. Someone made comment there is no need for gays to be married, but them why is there need for non gays to be married then? After a certain amount of years it would be common law right? It is about the principal. We want to marry the ones we love. I married my husband because I truly love him and want to spend the rest of my life with him. I want a ceremony for friends and family to cry at, laugh at, be a part of. I wanted to take his name and be his lawful wife. Why cant two human being of the same sex experience this too? In this dictionary the word love doesnt say..oh yeh, but all this can only be between a man & woman. All those against gay marriage, how does this affect you? What do you care? You dont know the couples, you arent in their homes, in their lives, sharing anything with them. Most likely you will never cross their path. Would you ever want a ban put on what you could or could not do? What if a proposition was brought up that you cannot marry past 30 or 25, too bad. Or what if you could not have kids or have pets or live with a person or anything. You would never want your rights as a human being taken away. Why are we doing this to them? Do you feel better knowing you hurt people, you shattered their dream, you took something away? I am disgusted to think that there are those out there that infringe their own beliefs on someone else and damage in the meanwhile, selfishly thinking nothing of it.

[chapulin]

Why isn't anyone protesting in front of an African American church? 75% of African Americans voted YES on Prop. 8 and supposedly for RELIGIOUS reasons. Talk about hypocrisy. They vote for Obama, a pro-choice liberal (that means he's in favor of abortion, which last I checked was frown upon by organized religion) but deny gays the opportunity to marry based on religious beliefs. Anyone who says that African Americans didn't vote for Obama simply because of his ethnicity is flat-out lying. The African American community wasn't concerned with anybody else's rights or with any issues. By the way, where has the story on this matter that appeared on the L.A. Times website yesterday gone? Can't find it anywhere.

[Lola C]

I think that it is terribly sad that this passed. No matter what anyone says the bases of this all is that it is two human beings wanting to be "Married", to make a vow to one another, to live their lives as a couple in lawful union no matter their Gender. Someone made comment there is no need for gays to be married, but them why is there need for non gays to be married then? After a certain amount of years it would be common law right? It is about the principal. We want to marry the ones we love. I married my husband because I truly love him and want to spend the rest of my life with him. I want a ceremony for friends and family to cry at, laugh at, be a part of. I wanted to take his name and be his lawful wife. Why cant two human being of the same sex experience this too? In this dictionary the word love doesnt say..oh yeh, but all this can only be between a man & woman. All those against gay marriage, how does this affect you? What do you care? You dont know the couples, you arent in their homes, in their lives, sharing anything with them. Most likely you will never cross their path. Would you ever want a ban put on what you could or could not do? What if a proposition was brought up that you cannot marry past 30 or 25, too bad. Or what if you could not have kids or have pets or live with a person or anything. You would never want your rights as a human being taken away. Why are we doing this to them? Do you feel better knowing you hurt people, you shattered their dream, you took something away? I am disgusted to think that there are those out there that infringe their own beliefs on someone else and damage in the meanwhile, selfishly thinking nothing of it.

[Danny Boyo]

Has no one taken the Gay Mormons feelings into account?

[Eric]

Separation of Church and State. They have should have the right to call their relationships of love a marriage as well. This is ridiculous it's just a term, why should the Government block a "term" from people?

I think it's our duty as citizens to protect the first amendment. This country was built on religious freedom.

People have vandalized property for even dumber reasons than this.

[Bert Green]

The Mormons are a legitimate target of this protest. But it does not stop there, in downtown LA there is a boycott coming of businesses that supported Yes on 8.

[Robert Kalonian]

Tuesday was a dark day in California's history. Voters elected the first black President with one vote while taking away the fundamental rights of Gay & Lesbian Californians with another. In the same election, voters gave chickens and pregnant pigs more rights and protections under state law. These are dangerous times with dangerous consequences. A simple majority (and a group of tax-exempt churches) should never be able to revise the Constitution to take away fundamental rights from a group of Americans. Perhaps we should start mandating history lessons for voters!

[Brenda]

Actually, Dave, marriage is a LEGAL contract that's governed by the states. If it was just a religious bond, then people wouldn't need to get a marriage license in order to be legally married. For example, a heterosexual atheist couple can get married without a church member even being involved in the process. It's got nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with legal rights. Civil marriage is a very different thing from a religious marriage.

And that's what a lot of people against gay marriage aren't getting. No one's forcing anyone to go beyond their accepted religious beliefs, or to be a part of something that also goes against their religious beliefs. All gay couples want is the legal protection that the marriage license provides.

Besides, as a friend of mine put it, Catholics aren't running around trying to get California to amend the state constitution to ban divorce, even though it's against their religious creed, so why is marriage between people of the same sex treated so differently.

[CG]

Dear Dave -- you were almost correct. Civil unions are governed and recognized by some individual states. But, unlike you straight, married folks, gay participants in civil unions do not receive any federal benefits. No right to social security. No right to a federal pr military pension. And so on....it's not the same as marriage -- not under the federal law. And that is worth fighting for!