Hundreds of protesters in support of same-sex marriage have continued rallying in the Westwood area since 2 p.m.
The protests began outside of a Mormon temple on Santa Monica Boulevard. The crowds continued to grow in size since the afternoon, disrupting traffic.
Members from UCLA’s Queer Alliance student organization who were campaigning against Proposition 8, a California measure that bans same-sex marriage, prior to Tuesday’s election participated in today’s protest.
Danny Torres, chair of Queer Alliance, said members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities have been feeling a range of emotions since Proposition 8 passed on Tuesday.
“Yesterday was weird,” he said. “Everyone was so sad and empty, and today, everyone’s pissed.”
Torres added that Queer Alliance members are planning to attend many similar rallies planned for the coming days.
Sections of Wilshire Boulevard, Westwood Boulevard and surrounding blocks have been closed due to protest activity, said Officer Jason Lee, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department, shortly after 6 p.m.
The actual number of demonstrators are unknown, but Lee said that a few hundred people have been protesting.
The Los Angeles Times’ earlier reports said that an LAPD official estimated the crowds to be approximately 3,000.
Lee said two arrests have been made, and the individuals displayed disorderly conduct. No other outbreaks of violence occurred, Lee added.
“The Los Angeles Police Department is working hard to protect both the right to protest and the right to travel through West Los Angeles area,” Lee said.
Torres said the Williams Institute within the UCLA School of Law is planning a speaker panel event next week. The Williams Institute studies sexual orientation law and public policy.
The event called “What Happens Next?” will feature representatives of the “No on 8″ campaign as well as other queer organizations.
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With reports from Audrey Kuo, Bruin senior staff.