I just got off the phone with Blake Wilkinson of Queer Liberaction, the group planning tonight’s Dallas Day of Decision Rally.
Wilkinson said he has no idea how many people to expect for the rally but added that he’s hoping for as many as possible.
“I would be stunned if it was less than 50. The response has been very good in the last few days that we’ve been publicizing this,†he said. “The response from the media has been decent, and the last thing we want is for a handful of us out on the corner holding signs. What kind of message does that send? It sends a message that gays and lesbians in Dallas don’t really care about their rights being taken away from them.â€
The rally will begin at 7 p.m. at the Legacy of Love Monument at the Oak Lawn Triangle, before proceeding to the patio of Throckmorton Mining Co. at about 7:30 or 7:45, Wilkinson said. Those scheduled to address the crowd through a megaphone from the TMC patio include Cece Cox, Chastity Kirven, Rick Vanderslice, Daniel Cates and Charles Curtis, Wilkinson said. Queer Liberaction will hold a final planning meeting in advance of the rally at 5:30 p.m. at Buli Café, 3908 Cedar Springs Road.
“Basically the motivation for today is to rally our troops and move forward and not be blindsided like we were in California,†Wilkinson said. “Get out in the streets, get organized, get active and move forward. The conservative right and the anti-gay forces here in Texas sure aren’t going to be taking a break, and neither should we.â€
I also spoke earlier today with Laura Martin, LGBT community liaison officer for the Dallas Police Department. Martin said DPD also is unsure how many people to expect, but she said she doesn’t foresee any major problems.
Martin said people attending the rally should avoid blocking traffic, engaging counterprotesters, and throwing things into the street or toward police officers.
“We know that the community is angry about the decision, but you have to have a little bit of sense when you’re protesting, unless you’re looking for an opportunity to go to jail,†Martin said.
I’d like to take this opportunity to assure the high police of Dallas that The Rare Reporter doesn’t want to go anywhere near the jail house. Considering how many times the Dallas County jail has failed government inspection, the accommodations just sound dreadful. In the same vein, I think I’ll make sure to stay away from the ones around this area. The police around Cedar Creek Lake recently arrested a gay man after he got into a fight with his boyfriend, and county jailers allegedly put him in the women’s section, where believe it or not, the females inmates kept stealing his food from him, according to the story. He reportedly didn’t eat for three days until his mother and father finally agreed to bail him out of jail. Visit https://therarereporter.blogspot.com
Location is everything. That being said, I hope we find ourselves on the steps of city hall or in an area where we aren’t preaching to the choir. People in the gayborhood are on our side…the visibility of a downtown rally would perhaps be more effective. Just a thought for future events.
Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King were not afraid to go to jail for what they believed. While I am definitely not saying that people should have to go to jail, I do want to say that sometimes the law is wrong and the people just have to be heard.
All my hopes are that you have a peaceful and heartfelt and effective rally. I would be there with you if not for distance and for the responsibilities of having a young child in school.