Gay Rights Activists Stage Another Night of Peaceful Protest
Thousands of protesters marched through the streets Friday night, peacefully but loudly declaring their anger over Gov. Pete Wilson’s veto of a gay rights bill.
Carrying placards proclaiming “Gay Rights Now or Civil War” more than 2,000 activists wound their way through West Hollywood and Hollywood.
The march capped a week of protest in the state’s major cities.
“This is an issue about human rights,” said Tammy Bruce, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Organization for Women. “The discrimination against women, especially on the job, especially lesbian women, is in epidemic proportions. We’re here to stop that.”
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were monitoring the roving protest but said it appeared to be peaceful. There were no arrests reported by 9:30 p.m. Friday, said sheriff’s Lt. Rudy Walker. Los Angeles Police reported one demonstrator was detained after fighting with others in the march.
Friday’s march was the latest in a series of demonstrations touched off by Wilson’s veto on Sunday of AB 101, a bill that would have outlawed discrimination against homosexuals in the workplace.
Wilson said the bill would overburden businesses with a “flood-tide” if litigation.
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