Sunday, November 16, 2008

November 15, 2008 (night)

a city on fire
These images were taken last night in Yorba Linda, CA.

Over 25,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes in and around Orange County today.
The fires have burned over 3,000 acres of land and have 0% containment. What I saw when I got into
Yorba Linda was tingling. Fires raged on the top of the hills and the people below stood on their driveways
with wide-eyes, and masks tied to their faces.
"We've got everything packed," said one resident. "Everything except for our 4 cats and dog. We've been ready to
evacuate since this afternoon."







Los Angeles, November 15, 2008 (morning)

the people of Los Angeles join the Nationwide protest for LGBT rights

































Wednesday, November 12, 2008

November 11, 2008 (Prop. 8 protest, week 2)

































It has been one week since the people of California voted on proposition 8 banning gay marriage in the state. Protesters have been out everyday since, in the streets carrying signs, parading in intersections, leading chants, circulating signatures to overturn the decision and forming human pyramids. The protests are not diminishing and the 'Yes on Prop. 8' people are few in numbers at the events despite their numbers on election day. I see no end to this battle in sight.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Los Angeles, November 6, 2008 (Proposition 8 protest)

"This event is the civil rights movement of the 21st Century" (Rick Jacobs,www.couragecampaign.org)

































Wednesday night gay-rights activists gathered outside the Mormon temple in Westwood to protest the role Mormons played in passing Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California.

Groups of protesters who had been in different neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles, during the day, waving signs, getting signatures on a pledge to repeal prop. 8, and marching through the streets together, unified at the intersection of Overland and Santa Monica Blvd. on the street at the bottom of the hill where the Mormon church, the Los Angeles Temple, sits.

The size of the protest group grew along with the energy and enthusiasm of the people within it. When the 11 o'clock news began broadcasting from the intersection around 11:05pm anchors had to plug their ears with fingers just to hear the cues from the station.

Gay-rights activists eventually started rushing the intersection when the crosswalk light would flash on. Respectfully though, they would walk back on to the sidewalk when it went off. "See, we're only breaking the law a little," joked one protester after regrouping himself on the sidewalk with friends as the lights turned green to allow traffic through the intersection.

The LAPD was especially respectful and even jovial at the protest announcing through megaphones as they patrolled the intersection, "Please, get back on the sidewalk. Thank you." It was refreshing to hear such polite phrases at such a high volume.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Los Angeles, November 4, 2008 (night time)

The following images were taken at "The Official Obama for America Los Angeles Democrats' Celebration" at the Century Plaza in Los Angeles. After being denied access at the front door by local law enforcement officials, due to the max capacity that was reached inside, an alternative route was discovered, and with the most professional suaveness we could muster my colleague and I found ourselves strolling through the busboy's entrance and into the party. It was quite a shindig.














Thursday, November 6, 2008

Los Angeles, November 4, 2008 (daytime)

On November 4, 2008 the citizens of the city of angels went to the polls and cast their votes. The two most talked about issues were the Presidency and Proposition 8, which aimed to ban gay marriage in California. The following photographs document this event.