Mon. October 28, 2013
Springfield, IL -
Thousands of people braved the cold rain to rally outside the Illinois state Capitol as part of the March on Springfield for Marriage Equality on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The March was part of a broad grassroots strategy to secure final passage of Senate Bill 10, the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, during the fall veto session.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) welcomed the crowd. He was flanked by other top state officials, including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Chicago), Lt. Governor Sheila Simon (D), Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) and Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka (R).
Speakers included: Pastor Jamie B. Frazier, Scott Cross, Marquell Smith, Brother Michael Oboza, Joanna Cooley, Vernita Gray, Andy Thayer, Naomi Anurag Lahiri, Cinda Klickna, Bishop Carlton Pearson, Robert Castillo, Art Johnson, Rev. Mark Kiyimba, Bonnie Grabenhofer, Liz Thompson, Michael Carrigan, LZ Granderson, and Toni Weaver. Bishop Carlton Pearson delivered the keynote address.
Musical performances included: Artemis Singers and Amasong, Windy City Performing Arts, Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, Steve Grand, Sami Grisafe, SONiA of disappear fear, De'Borah, Marcus Terell & the Serenades, Stephen Leonard, KOKUMO!, and Sandra Antongiorgi.
Organizers reported more than 5,000 people participated. Media reports noted several thousand and Springfield police estimated at least 3,000 people were there. The crowd chanted slogans such as "Pass the damn bill."
Watch the full high definition video provided by Blue Room Stream, the same vendor that streams live coverage from the Illinois House and Senate chambers, Windy City Times and MarchonSpringfield.com.
Related: Record-breaking crowds rally in Springfield for marriage equality
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