SAN DIEGO — Six members of
the “Equality Nine,” marriage equality activists arrested on August 19, 2010
for enacting a “sit-in” at San Diego County Clerk’s office and demanding that
marriage licenses be issued to same-sex couples, have been vindicated. The
legal proceedings against them ended after two years and a “motion to dismiss”
by the city attorney today. The activists see the end of this case as a victory
in the struggle against restrictions on free speech, the inequality of Queer
marriage rights, and an overzealous San Diego City Attorney.
The action that began with
nine activists and their supporters peacefully asking the county clerks to
follow their oath and the constitution to grant same-sex marriage licenses,
ended not with an effort to find resolution or with respect for freedom of
speech and assembly, but with nearly fifty riot-clad county sheriffs arresting
the nine where they sat on public property. The Equality Nine and their
dedicated legal team have spent the last two years and four days organizing and
preparing to defeat the city’s two misdemeanor charges. “Too often prosecutors
bully innocent defendants into taking bad plea deals,” said Zakiya Khabir, an
Equality Nine member. “I’m in awe of the support we received from the community
and our legal team: Gerald Blank, Todd Moore, Alex Landon, Michael Hernandez,
Dan Greene, Michael Crowley and others. Without them it would have been easier
to give in to Goldsmith’s intimidation.”
In the years since
California was stripped of marriage equality, some have fought to overturn
Proposition 8 at the ballot box; some have raised federal civil cases against
the state to overturn the marriage ban; others, like the Equality Nine, have
pursued direct action against the institution that oversees this state
sanctioned discrimination. “We were right to be in the county clerk’s office on
August 19, 2010, we are still right to be dissatisfied with any form of
discrimination in society and we encourage people to organize and take a stand
when they recognize it, ” said Sean Bohac, one of the former defendants and a
member of San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality (S.A.M.E.). “Though we still
don’t have equal marriage rights in California, I know from first-hand accounts
that our efforts have provided encouragement to those working for justice. I
think the City Attorney finally recognized the trend of public opinion on
marriage equality, and softened his stand against freedom of speech when he
backed out of this expensive legal ego battle.”
While the legal case
against them has ended, the nine recognize that the work is not done. “The
victory for the Equality Nine is only a victory against our criminalization for
speaking out.” said fellow Equality Nine member Cecile Veillard True victory is
not ours until Tony & Tyler Dylan-Hyde, Claire Manley & Ditchi Davila,
and other couples who had appointments to be married that day are finally
allowed to exercise their full equal civil rights in this state, as Federal Judge
Walker demanded they be allowed to do when he overturned Proposition 8 in his
decision over two years ago, on August 4, 2010.”
Members of the Equality
Nine, and S.A.M.E., will join the event host Canvass for a Cause (CFAC) for
“Pussy Riot Solidarity Concert” Saturday, August 25, 7 p.m. at the CFAC
Headquarters Building, 3705 10th Avenue in Hillcrest. The event will be a
combination community performance and social which will give people a chance to
meet the Equality Nine and learn about and support current political prisoners
like Pussy Riot in Russia. “We are so proud of our colleagues who refused to
surrender their civil rights and admit to false guilt just to make these
charges go away. Today the charges were dropped, and although this belated
justice does not erase the wrongs done to the Equality Nine and all LGBT people
daily, it does mark one more victory on the side of equality. Canvass for a
Cause is honored to work tirelessly in coalition with San Diego Alliance for
Marriage Equality, the Equality Nine, and the community to educate the public
and work against oppression.” said Sarah Parish, spokesperson for Canvass for a
Cause.
Members of the community are encouraged to attend the next
S.A.M.E. meeting held the second and fourth Tuesdays at the San
Diego Pride Office at 6:30 pm. See www.samealliance.com for more information.
