Sylvia’s Speech |
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It was a cold, dark and raining the night of the speech. I had worked all day. I was tired and I really didn’t feel like going out in the rain that night for the rally. I was still depressed that another murder had happened and not much was being done to change it. I knew it would be hard to film because it was a night, with rain and I had neither, lights or rain protector for my camera. I had spent the last of my saving on a Canon GL1 camera. I didn't’t want it damage. Still something told me it was important for me to be there. I wrapped my camera in a plastic Safeway grocery bag and headed out the door. I was encouraged that evening when I saw there was a large turnout. The energy in the crowd gave me strength to believe that somehow this was all going to work out. I started taking some shots of the crowd but the lighting was pretty bad. I saw the Angles standing over by the street light and I started taping them. I used the street light to back light them. This turned out to be one of my favorite shot of the movie. I noticed all the camera people setting up in front of the stage. I didn't know how they would feel about me setting up right next to them, but I felt like I had a right to be there. They all started putting there remote mics on the podium. I made a note to myself they I’d have to get myself one when I had the money. I was worried about the lack of lights. There were a couple of lights on the stage but they were not enough. As soon as the main speaker began to speak on came all these lights from the professional camera people. Light was no longer a problem. I used my camera mic because that was all I had. It worked surprising well except for one problem. Every time a drop of rain hit the Safeway bag you could There were many speakers that night. The
rally was coordinated by PFLAG. Gloria Allred came to the podium and
spoke for a while. She introduced Sylvia Guerrero and her family. Sylvia
was younger and prettier than I had imagined. She said she wasn’t feeling
well that night and could only speak briefly. Yet she spoke with a strong
voice and a very powerful message. She is the mother of four. I have
five children and I would go to pieces if anything every happened to
any of them. Losing any of them is my deepest fear.
Sylvia spoke about her baby, Eddie/Gwen.
How she love him more than anything. She spoke of the difficulties Gwen had
growing up. How kids would say things, even in front of her. She spoke of the
lack of religious tolerance. And she thanked the angles for all they have
done. On that cold rainy night, as I stood there, tears in my eyes, my heart
went out to her.
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