CNN iReport

ALL PHOTOS IN THIS IREPORT ARE MY OWN PERSONAL PHOTOS THAT I TOOK AND OWN!  THEY ARE NOT TO BE USED IN ANY OTHER FORUM WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.  I WILL TURN YOU IN FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IF YOU DO SO!!!

On Saturday, November 15th there was a peaceful prop 8 protest in

Washington DC as a part of an organized nationwide protest.  It began

at 1:30pm by the reflecting pool in front of the US Capitol building

and ended sometimes after 5:00pm at Lafayette Park in front of the

White House.  The march was approximately 1.8 miles and continued down

the National Mall and past the Washington Memorial.

An

estimated 5,000 people showed up (however, other news sources reported

as much as 10,000.  A few mistakingly reported only 500 but those

numbers were incorrect) in Washington DC and an estimated 250,000+

nationwide.  The protests all begain simultaneously as a nationwide

movement.

The protest in Washington DC was peaceful and

well organized with no reported incidents.  There were police stationed

along the route in order to help control traffic and handle any

incidents that may break out (although, again, none did).  Some police

rode bycicles along with the line of protestors.  As protestors crossed

streets in small groups to allow for traffic to alternate, many

shouted, "Thank you officer!" with appreciation to the police officers

who helped to control traffic to allow them to cross.  At one point a

road was blocked off temporarily to allow for the protestors to

continue their route down one side of the street.

Drivers

honked and waved in support of the protestors but a few rolled down

their windows and taunted them by laughing at them and shouting hateful

and rude comments to them such as, "fudgepackers!"  The protestors

ignored these incidences and continued on their path with their message.

It

rained on and off during the protest as there was a tornato watch

issued.  At one point there was a torrential downpour lasting only a

few moments causing some protestor signs to be ruined.  The weather did

not deter protestors-umberellas popped open in unison and rain tarps

were adorned as the protestors moved on without a flinch.  Signs with

bleeding marker and ink still remained in the air.  Other protestors

prepared for rain as they had already covered their signs with clear

plastic to protect them.

A few of the chants that were heard throughout the march were:

"The power of the people is for the people and by the people and the power of the people won't stop"

"What do we want?  Equal rights.  When do we want it?  Now"

"Gay straight black white, marriage is a civil right"

"Hey hey, ho ho, prop 8 has got to go"

"Hey hey, ho ho, homophobia has got to go"

"Hey hey, ho ho, all this hate has got to go"

The

line of protestors stretched so far that you could not see the

beginning or the end of the line.  Protestors, observers, and media

stood along the sides of the path as well as gathered at its beginning

and ending points.

Organizers spoke at the beginning of

the march as well as at the end.  Others were allowed to step up and

speak, telling their stories and messages as the rest of the crowd

looked on and listened, cheering in unison.

At the

protest end, protestors respected the city by placing their signs and

posters in and against the garbage cans throughout the city.

After

the protest a rainbow appeared stretching from the Capitol building to

the White House-ironically, the starting and ending points of the

protest.