California campaign heats up, reports of threats and harassment
Only 25 days remain for the right wing to qualify the “Limits on Marriage” initiative for the November ballot in California. By all indications, it will be a nail-biter of a finish to gather the 1.1 million total signatures needed to secure the 700,000 valid ones required to qualify the measure for the ballot.
As of April 1, Protectmarriage.com reported having gathered 951,000 signatures overall. Measure proponents had set a public deadline of April 1 to gather the signatures; because they’re still short, they’ve extended their public signature-gathering deadline to April 8. If the measure qualifies for the November ballot and passes, it would change the California Constitution to forever ban same-sex couples from marrying. Meanwhile, the state’s Supreme Court continues to deliberate over arguments heard on March 4 about whether same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry; a ruling must be issued by early June.
The Task Force Action Fund continues to lead a broader statewide decline-to-sign campaign known as Equality for All. Every day, in six cities across the state, staff and volunteers are going toe to toe with dozens of paid signature-gatherers at retail areas to ask shoppers not to sign the “Limits on Marriage” initiative petitions. In just over a month, eight Task Force organizers have worked with staff from other national and state organizations to help build a phenomenal team of 2,073 volunteers that have convinced 34,855 shoppers not to sign the anti-gay initiative petitions. These fair-minded shoppers have also signed a pledge supporting the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.
We know our campaign is making a difference because many paid signature-gatherers have begun resorting to verbal and physical threats to try and shut down our operations. Paid signature-gatherers in Fresno have been especially aggressive. At one site, a signature-gatherer told a volunteer that he hoped the volunteer gets into a car accident on the way home. At another site, a signature-gatherer shoved an Equality for All staff member into a pillar outside of Wal-Mart.
Unfortunately, when the Fresno police have been called for help, they have typically sided with the opposition. In the case of the shoving incident, they told the Equality for All staff that they shouldn’t have gotten in the paid signature-gatherer’s way. The Fresno team has since recruited area faith leaders to be present at the most problematic signature-gathering sites; these leaders are bearing witness against any acts of intimidation from the opposition. Meanwhile, local staff and volunteers continue to show great resilience while standing their ground at key sites across the city.
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Commentary: Running the perfect play to win equality
“Never in a million years did I think that my elementary, middle and high school basketball ‘career’ would prepare me in so many ways for my life as an organizer. My nickname back then was ‘Lil’ Bit.’ Today, I prefer ‘Mr. Campaign Manager, Sir.’”
— Sarah E. Reece, Organizing & Training Project Director
[ Read the full commentary ]
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