Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 06:31:48 EST From: WillNich@AOL.COM To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: 25 Arrested in Louisville Permission to reprint hereby granted. 25 ARRESTED AT LOUISVILLE CITY HALL FOLLOWING DEFEAT OF GAY RIGHTS ORDINANCE Louisville, Kentucky (March 28, 1995). 25 supporters of Louisville's Employment Non-Discrimination (END) Ordinance were arrested at Louisville's City Hall this evening on charges of criminal trespass after refusing to leave aldermanic chambers following a 7-4 vote by the city's Board of Aldermen against the proposal. The barebones proposal would have prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation in the area of employment only and would have been applicable to any business with over two employees. Carefully worded to appease religious right opponents, it exempted religious institutions, including churches and schools, and even had a provision noting that it was not intended to "promote homosexuality." "There comes a time in the life of every civil rights movement," said Carla Wallace, co-coordinator of the Fairness Campaign, which has been pushing for the ordinance for four years, "...to stand before the body politic and demand accountability for crimes committed under protection of law. Our refusal to passively accept this assault to our freedom is an affirmation of our commitment to the high and noble task before us." Wallace is on the board of directors of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Immediately following the vote, one protestor sprayed a can of Glade above the audience and yelled "The stench in this room is foul!" Police quickly moved in and removed him peacefully from the chamber, but he was not charged. In the meantime, fifty other protestors remained standing quietly in a pre-planned demonstration, holding yellow paper signs that said "Waiting for Justice." (The chamber holds about 145 people). The regular bimonthly meeting was recessed for 15 minutes, but protestors stood standing even after the meeting was officially adjourned at 7:45 pm. Louisville Chief of Police Doug Hamilton was finally summoned about 25 minutes later to warn the crowd that if they didn't leave in five minutes they would be cited for criminal trespass. After about half the protestors left, the remaining 25 sat silently. Protestors arrested, besides Wallace, included her lover and fellow activist Lisa Doyle; Everett Hoffman, Executive Director of the ACLU of Kentucky; Dr. George Edwards, a retired professor of theology and noted author from the Southern Presbyterian Seminary in Louisville; Dr. Hal Warheim, professor of theology at the same seminary and leader of Religious Leaders for Fairness; Jane Hope and Reba Coffman, members of the board of directors of P-FLAG of Louisville; Eddie Mitchell, President of Gays and Lesbians United for Equality (GLUE), a local umbrella organization composed of most of the active gay and lesbian groups in Louisville; Eleanor Self, noted researcher of far right activities; and Eric Graninger, attorney for the Fairness Campaign. Outside of City Hall, a noisy crowd of 150 supporters stood across the street chanting and singing. Eventually they moved to the side of the ancient building, where they greeted each of the people arrested with loud cheers and chants as they appeared at the top of an outside landing, escorted by police. The last arrests left for the Hall of Justice at 9:30 to be booked. Most were expected to be released on their own recognizance by midnight. ###