Protests against Proposition 8 supporters in California took place starting in November 2008. These included prominent protests against the Roman Catholic church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), which supported California's Proposition 8.[1] The proposition was a voter referendum that amended the state constitution to recognize marriage only as being between one man and one woman, thus banning same-sex marriage, which was legal in the state following a May 2008 California Supreme Court case.[2]
The highly emotional, closely contested nature of the voter referendum created a political maelstrom that was unusual in intensity for its time. After closely passing, the backlash from those who opposed Proposition 8 was widely covered by news media and was controversial. Anti-Proposition 8 activists looked up supporters in state-government-required donation documentation, then posted their names and personal information, and organized protests at their places of work.[3] Several religious buildings were vandalized, and several Proposition 8 supporters received death threats, were mailed envelopes of white powder resembling anthrax, or lost their jobs. This method of shaming and forcing out Proposition 8 supporters was called a "mob veto" in a full-page advertisement in The New York Times, which was signed by law professors, diplomats, civil rights activists, and heads of religious organizations, while others cited concerns about bigotry against those with religious beliefs.
- ^ Kuruvila, Matthai (2008-11-10). "Catholics, Mormons allied to pass Prop. 8". SFGate. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
- ^ Dolan, Maura (May 27, 2009). "California high court upholds Prop. 8". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
- ^ "Prop 8 Donor Web Site Shows Disclosure Law Is 2-Edged Sword". New York Times. February 7, 2009.