Approximately 30 people, around noon, converged near the Liberty Pole in Downtown Rochester on November 20th to commemorate the 10th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

The vigil was not the only event scheduled for the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley hosted an evening of spoken word poetry and artwork from local transgendered individuals. Anya Turnquist, one of the organizers for the vigil, has also organized a panel and discussion around the building of a transgender movement as well as preventative strategies to transphobic violence. The panel and discussion will take place at Equal = Grounds (750 South Ave.) coffee shop at 3pm on Saturday, November 22nd.

photos: 1 | 2 | 3
Related: Victims of Transphobic Violence Remembered

On Nov. 15th, in hundreds of cities across the US, protesters gathered to show frustration over the ballot initiatives that passed in Arizona, California and Florida banning same sex marriage and to send a message to state and the federal governments that marriage is a civil right that should be afforded to all citizens. In Rochester, despite it being a cold, rainy day about a 150 gay and straight people gathered outside the Monroe County building to send the message to Albany and Washington DC. During the protest it was kind of ironic that a wedding party pulled up in a bus to go into the county building and had to pass through the protesters.

video: Indy TV Segment
photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | More photos from the Rochester Against War media gallery

While liberals and conservatives gathered, partied, or prayed for a desirable outcome to the election—that is, the determination of who would rule them for the next four years—a group of activists gathered for a different purpose. If the people demand change, then change they will have, this group proclaimed. Their banner, facing the Clinton Avenue entrance to the city, proudly read: Seed Camp for Direct Democracy.

Rochester, NY. Following Election Day 2008, Rochester Against War, Rochester Students for a Democratic Society, Campus Antiwar Network, Military Families Speak Out, and local Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans stand together to make the following statement:

Indy TV Video of Press Conference

For nearly two years, major polls have shown that a majority of Americans want an end to the war in Iraq. The war has not "brought democracy" to the Middle East. It has not improved the lives of the Iraqi people, nor has it reduced the violence in the region. In fact, it has done exactly the opposite.

After witnessing the government’s attack of protesters and citizens peaceful acts of civil disobedience in St. Paul, MN. This writer has serious questions about the militarization of US streets. With two previously stolen Presidential elections and the reports of caging, purging of voter rolls, long lines at voting stations and other forms of voter suppression will the citizens of the US take to the streets if the outcome of the election again is questionable.