ENDA Protest in Vegas Under Way
Get Equal is starting off Netroots Nation … with a protest!
Challenging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the activists have blocked traffic with activists and a sign calling on Reid to pass ENDA, and unfurling a banner over the strip urging the same.
According to Steve Friess, who is on the scene, the cops have arrived and — unsurprisingly — Get Equal’s activists are not standing down.
[UPDATE: Friess reports that there are multiple arrests. From the photo, those in custody include Robin McGehee and Lt. Dan Choi.
A picture of the arrestees from Friess (larger version available if you click the pic!):
From the write-up from Friess:
“We’re being arrested because gay and transgender people in America are being denied their equal rights,” shouted Lt. Dan Choi to passers-by as he was led in handcuffs to a spot near the front driveway of the New York-New York Hotel-Casino. “I want you to remember that as you hang out in Las Vegas today.”
The protesters were booked on one count each of blocking the roadway and obstructing a police officer, both misdemeanors punishable with a fine. They expected to post $400 bail a piece and be released by dinnertime, a GetEQUAL spokeswoman told AOL News.
Heather Cronk, managing director of Get Equal, said in a news release:
“Today’s leading news in Nevada is the fact that newly-released unemployment numbers show 193,000 people in the state are looking for jobs. There is no doubt that many LGBT workers are included in that number, who have the added burden of discrimination to contend with when applying for a job. It’s not right, it’s not fair and it’s not the American way. LGBT workers, like all American workers, just want to earn a living, pay their bills, and provide for their families like everyone else.”]
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