Prop 8 demonstration response

Antonio Villaragosa – Mayor – City of Los Angeles
William Bratton – Chief – Los Angeles Police Department

Honorable Gentlemen,

A funny thing happened to me this week on the way to my working at the Mormon Temple. I was blocked from my assignment and threatened for my support of a political proposition. The temple had been closed by un hallowed hands by the foes to the passage of proposition 8. Though they exercised their right to demonstrate the outcome of the election, in the process, they decided to violate the rights of others. All this was accomplished in full view of the LAPD, challenged with the task of maintaining the peace. Some of the demonstrators exercised civil dis-obedience and in such committed hate crimes. By far the demonstration was peaceful, however a few of the leaders, by their speeches whipped the crowd into a frenzy and let their peaceful demonstration get out of hand. Though not the result of the organizers and participants of the events, they are all now guilty of serious hate crimes.

Proposition 8, in no way was about HATE….. simply stated, Marriage is only recognized as a union between one man and one woman…. Leaders of the, “No on 8’” were wrong to assert such hate in their post election and statements and threats…. Through their process to alert the public to their side of the issue, they promoted and committed the hate crimes. The association of a few rowdy members of their group, who knew no better than to throw a temper tantrum because they did not get their way, is deplorable.

To deface ones house of worship, be they Black, White, Yellow, Red, Jew, Catholic, Baptist or Mormon is a hate crime and for one to commit such an un-holy act should not go on un-prosecuted. To threaten members of any such organization such as the Mormon Church for their support of a noble cause with all manner of un-called for remarks is deplorable. To act unlawfully and seek re-dress because of the way a person voted, or at the least supported is just not the American way of Democracy.

The task to keep a demonstration peaceful falls not only upon the heads of organizers but also to LAPD who stood by and let what happened occur un-checked. This is not acceptable by a law abiding society. I was called a Bigot, only because I stood up for Marriage and the Family, as has been the cause of decent people everywhere since the very inception of not only California, but our Great United States. What about the others, including the 51% of the voters of Los Angeles County who voted and passed proposition 8. What about the 70% of the Black population of California who voted in favor of proposition 8. What about the vast majority of church going, voting members of the state, who also voted in favor of proposition 8. Should this have occurred with any other group of the populace, the action would not have been tolerated and immediate action would have transpired.

I love my country and state, but I do not love what I see happening by the failure of others to observe and defend the laws of our society. I am saddened by such leaders and peace officers, as well as yourselves, in the obvious failure to be fair and provide the appropriate and proper protection as deserved. In other words, I call on you to do your jobs and see that appropriate action transpire.

Sincerely



William J.B. Steele
Brentwood Village, CA