More than 60 people turned out for a rally and march against hate crimes, organized by the San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality (SAME) at Civic Center Park in Lemon Grove, last Friday, June 26.

“This gathering tonight is a wonderful demonstration from members of the LGBT community and their friends that we will stand together against hatred and violence. That while cowardly acts like those that brought us here tonight may still exist, they will not be tolerated and, instead, only embolden us to fight for what is right and what is fair,” said Assemblymember Marty Block in a letter read by his Chief of Staff, Christopher Ward.

Recent attacks on Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride and local musician Rhythm Turner were the impetus for the event, but the attack on deHarte during the June 6 Equality Torch Relay in Lemon Grove was the reason for the holding it in the low-income community, located a few miles south of San Diego State University.

Neither deHarte nor Block was able to attend the event, but deHarte addressed attendees through a letter, read by former City Council candidate Stephen Whitburn.

“The attack against me on June 6 was an attack on our entire community. I was targeted because I was holding a rainbow flag. Attacked because I was waving the colors of the rainbow, which have become symbolic of both the unity and diversity of the LGBT community worldwide. The recent hate crimes are a harsh reminder that our struggle continues,” deHarte wrote.

Turner, who was attacked on May 14 after performing in a Mission Beach nightclub, was also unable to attend the event but addressed the audience through a letter she wrote, also read by Whitburn.

“I was victimized and assaulted by a strange man in a parking lot after he saw me and my girlfriend hugging outside of her car. But in the midst of all the chaos, I can’t help but feel this undeniable sense of purpose and mission. I want to use this traumatic event as a catalyst for positive change and awareness,” said Turner.

While the event was promoted as a protest against hate crimes and state cuts to HIV/AIDS services and programming, nothing was said about the funding cuts. Speakers did, however, mention the issue of marriage equality and Proposition 8, the state ban against same-sex marriage.

“Why are we here today? Because Prop. 8 is a mistake! Why is it a mistake? Because hate and intolerance is wrong. It’s that simple. When you deny gay rights, you deny family rights. Why is that? Because every family has a gay member,” Chris Pearson, a member of SAME and the event’s MC, said.

Lemon Grove City Councilmember George Gastil said his city was a “microcosm” of the state on Proposition 8.

“This community was covered with ‘Yes on 8’ signs, which shocked many of us, which even surprised me. [This is] such a multicultural community that supported Obama very heavily. Most of us think of this community as a very loving and open type of place,” Gastil said. “We need to have more conversations, not only in this community but in every community throughout the state.”

Early in the event, participants lit candles in memory of U.S. citizens who have died as the result of a hate crime. Afterward, Pearson read a list of their names. Juan Medina, a member of SAME, then led participants on a mile-long march from Civic Center Park to Lemon Grove’s main business district, along Broadway Avenue to Kempf Street.

Marchers sang and yelled more than a dozen protest chants including “Free to be gay in the U.S.A.,” “Stop the hate, repeal Prop. 8” and “Obama, Obama, let mama marry mama. Obama, Obama, let papa marry papa.”

Along the route, two adolescent girls and a group of teenagers cheered the marchers on while people drove by and honked their horns in support. Besides the youth and drivers, and a woman at a local Jack in the Box who popped her head outside a door and yelled, “Gay, gay, go, away,” people mostly stayed silent and watched the spectacle from a door or window.

The march ended at the city’s landmark, a giant lemon, where organizers announced, “We will be back!”