By Amanda Dyer

When I saw 30 to 40  Proposition 8 supporters on my way home a recent Thursday evening, I knew I had to record the event. As a student journalist, my first instinct is to document.

Proposition 8 supporter attempts to block the camera.

Camera in hand, I walked the four blocks from my apartment to the corner of Lakeshore Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, where demonstrators had gathered on three of the four corners of the intersection and the center divide. The supporters waved signs at rush-hour commuters, cheering for their cause.

Proposition 8, the measure that if passed would ban same-sex couples from getting married, is arguably the hottest issue on California’s ballot. But, until I visited the Oct. 23 event, I had no idea how passionate people actually felt about the topic.

When I began snapping photos, Proposition 8 supporters went for my camera. I tried to explain the law says I can take photos of people in public places, but they didn’t seem to care.

Two women, who appeared to be in their late 20s, blocked my camera. One bumped chests with me, pushed me and dared me to take another photo. I did.

That’s when the two women and another older woman, all wearing latex gloves, surrounded me and started chanting anti-gay slogans. They pushed me. They told me I was a fag. The older woman repeatedly hit me over the head with her plastic, blue and yellow, Yes on Proposition 8 sign.

Shaking with anger, I walked the opposite corner where several Oakland police officers were monitoring the demonstration. I picked an officer out of the group and told him I wanted to file charges against the women.

He calmly told me that he hadn’t seen the incident. I could place the women under citizen’s arrest, but they could do the same to me. After all, it was their word against mine.

By then the two younger women had followed me to the corner.

I decided that I would rather not risk spending the night in the Oakland jail, so I declined the officer’s offer.

I came to the demonstration hoping to capture images as part of my First Amendment right, but now I just wanted to go home. I stood on the corner waiting for the light to change so I could cross the street on my way back to my apartment.

That’s when the two younger women put their faces in mine and accused me of lying to the police. One was inches from my face, screaming that I was a liar and a bitch.

That’s when I lost my cool. It was wrong, but I raised my middle finger and stood there while she yelled.

She said I needed to vote for Proposition 8 and pointed to her sign. It’d be good for my soul.

When two women finally crossed the street, I saw that another girl, who looked no older than 16, had joined them. Trailing behind them, she turned around to glare and throw one last “bitch” at me.

I had planned to cross the street behind them. I needed to get home.

But the officer I had talked to earlier told me to go a different route. I might get hurt if I didn’t, he said.

He and another officer were walking me two blocks north toward my house when I started to cry. They asked if I was OK to walk the rest of the way, and I somehow managed to get out a “yes.”

I didn’t go there to make a statement, and I didn’t. I only wanted to take some photos in the interest of journalism, but I ended up getting much more.

Last 5 posts by Amanda Dyer

• Multimedia: Life on Telegraph and People's Park - December 8th, 2008
• UC Berkeley students shop at high-end stores out of convenience - November 26th, 2008
• Berkeley hosts help homeless - November 25th, 2008
• School uses Cre8-tive fundraising to keep art program alive - November 19th, 2008
• Former Cal student offers look into Berkeley’s homeless - November 15th, 2008