Tag Archives: Harvey Milk

May 21st: The 34th Anniversary of the Castro’s White Night Riots

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The poster that appeared through out the Castro and the City the day after White Night Riots.

The poster that appeared throughout the Castro and the City the day after White Night Riots.

Thirty four years ago tonight is the anniversary of the Castro’s White Night Riots. The mild nearly Summer, evening exploded in a fit of pent-up rage following the horrific news that Dan White had been convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to only a eight year prison term for shooting down Harvey Milk and George Moscone.

To add insult to injury the conviction happened the day before what would’ve been Harvey’s 49th birthday. What follows is a recounting of that event through quotes, pictures, reports, video and personal amalgamated remembrances of the historic event that followed. The White Night Riots was a turning point in both the Castro’s and the SF LGBT’s community’s history.

May 21st, 1979: The jury had been in deliberations for days. Prosecutors had asked for 1st degree murder with special circumstances that’d carry the death penalty if former SF Supe turned murderer, Dan White, was convicted. People were on edge. The City had been holding its collected breath since the murders of Mayor George Moscone and Milk. Harvey Milk’s election had represented to the local and worldwide LGBT community that equality could be possible when he took the office as an out member of the Board of Supervisors.

(L-R) Harvey Milk, George Moscone, Dan White

(L-R) Harvey Milk, George Moscone, Dan White

In the context of the times that Harvey Milk was elected one needs to understand the climate of the day when it came to Queers. A concerted effort was underway to overturn a new Gay rights ordinance in Miami/Dade County, FL led by the darling of the Far Right, former Miss America, Anita Bryant. Coors brewery openly discriminating against LGBT employees and bragged about it to the press. The Briggs Initiative had just been defeated in CA. that would’ve outlawed LGBT citizen’s from being teachers. It was common place for Gay people to be murdered, beaten, fired, thrown out of apartments, denied hospital visits with lovers, disowned by family, have children ripped from their care, falsely arrested/entrapped, victims of blackmail, forced into institutions or branded insane.

The Chronicle, May 21, 1979

The Chronicle, May 21, 1979

Few public officials championed LGBT causes. The idea of a sitting POTUS being one of our most vocal supporters as is the case today was unimaginable. The post-Stonewall, modern LGBT rights movement was a decade old and while strides had been made, WE, as a people, were still getting our asses handed to us daily on every level.

Harvey’s District 5 (now Dist. 8) win here in San Francisco as a duly appointed Supervisor in one of America’s most beloved cities was huge. Many activists believed it sounded the bell to all who heard it that things were going to change for the better for our people at last. Their beliefs were quickly quashed when Harvey’s victorious stint as Supervisor was cut short by White’s rampage.

“..when White shot Harvey it was if as if he shot us all. When he cut down Moscone-the most pro Gay mayor this Ciity had ever elected-he sent a signal to LGBT allies that they were equally at risk…” -the late Hank Wilson, Activist

Dan White was viewed by many as the golden boy embodiment of the old school, SF politico power structure.  He was former SFFD, SFPD and had marketed himself as a ‘normal’ San Franciscan-the City’s last hope to keep it out of the hands of the freaks in his campaign for Supervisor. Now he sat in jail and his attorney had based his defense on White’s low blood sugar and over indulgence in pastries like Twinkies had led him to be imbalanced and temporarily insane at the time of the shooting. The premise was so outlandish a defense that local news reporters had a difficult time keeping a straight face when reporting on the trial.

Marching to express their outrage at the verdict. May 21, 1979

Marching to express their outrage at the verdict. May 21, 1979

In the late afternoon of the 21st of May news reached the Castro from City Hall that Dan White had been convicted of voluntary manslaughter not the expected first degree murder and sentenced to eight years in prison. The community’s response was visceral. People were shaken and suddenly the last vestiges of progress that they felt they’d won was stripped away.

The crowd reaches City Hall and erupts. Photo: Jerry Pritkin

The crowd reaches City Hall and erupts. Photo: Jerry Pritkin

 ”When the news broke, everyone ran to Castro Street. We didn’t have cell phones or computers or time to print posters. It didn’t matter, everyone knew what to do. It was about 5:00pm. By the time the sun went down, Civic Center Plaza was littered with burning police cars, smoke and tear gas filled the air and thousands of furious lesbians and gay men fought the police throughout the city.” -Cleve Jones, Milk Aide, Activist

The community quickly gathered in the Castro. The rage filled the air. Within an hour 500 people amassed, then 1500 as people blocked the intersection of Market and Castro. An impromptu march about the neighborhood led by Cleve Jones, Harvey’s appointed replacement, Harry Britt, and Milk’s now widow, Scott Smith began.
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Campos Compromises-Terminal Not SFO to be Renamed in Milk’s Memory

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Harvey Milk stencil by SF artist Jeremy Novy

Harvey Milk stencil by SF artist Jeremy Novy

As the Biscuit has reported several times since January, Supervisor David Campos (District 9), introduced the idea of renaming SFO in honor of slain civil rights leader and Castro icon, Harvey Milk. Now it seems the powers that be have come up with a compromise solution-a terminal within the airport to bear his name instead of the entire facility.

There have been heated debates, rallies and an outpouring of community support for the idea alongside some very organized opposition to Campos’ plan.

While the late Supervisor Milk and his legacy are revered in some circles others felt he didn’t deserve such a magnanimous gesture of having the airport re-tagged in his honor. Campos’ had five votes sewn up from fellow Supervisors to move forward with his rebranding bid but the all important sixth deciding vote eluded him. That vote would have to be supplied by one of the freshmen Supervisors and none seemed convinced it was in their constituents (or perhaps theirs political) best interest.

Note Terminal 1 the unofficial selection to be renamed for Harvey Milk. Photo: FlySFO.

Note Terminal 1 the unofficial selection to be renamed for Harvey Milk. Photo: FlySFO.

Becoming convinced the job would be a raucous, uphill battle where the final decision for the name change would be placed before City voters in an off-year November ballot initiative Campos worked with Mayor Ed Lee to find a compromise-renaming one of SFO’s terminals in Harvey’s memory.

The plan now stands a committee composed of members hand-picked by the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor’s camps representing both of their interests would put together a proposal for how to make this all happen and come back with solid plans and goals within the next three months.

Supervisor Campos’ dream of having visitors to our City pass through Harvey Milk Airport has been whittled down, but, he believes his main goal-of teaching and honoring Harvey’s dream of equality and hope for all-can still be realized via the terminals prominence and position.

Which terminal is to be selected still remains to be seen. Currently Terminal One is amidst a remodeled and may be the easiest to transition in signage and other alterations to carry the late Supervisors moniker.

-Reminder the State of California’s official Harvey Milk holiday is May 22nd. Local celebrations are planned. Click the link to see what’s happening locally in the Castro.

The beautiful shrine to Harvey Milk assembled by members of the SF political club named in his honor-Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club

The beautiful shrine to Harvey Milk assembled by members of the SF Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club at the 2012 Milk/Moscone Anniversary March at Castro and Market. Photo: Waiyde Palmer

Celebrations for Harvey Milk Day set for around the Castro

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Harvey Milk Day May 22ndIt’s been 5 years since Arnold Schwarzenegger established Harvey Milk Day. On May 22nd, we celebrate the life of this first-ever openly gay politician, gay rights activist, lover, brother, and to a lucky some, old friend. If you’re looking for a way to celebrate, check out some of the events happening around the Castro this week (if we are missing any, let us know and we will get them up!):

May 19th
At 1PM at Jane Warner Plaza, speeches, music and a reenactment of Milk’s stirring 1977 “You’ve Got To Have Hope” speech. The speech will be performed by five local artists: Courtney Walsh and Aaron Wimmer, two actors from “Dear Harvey”, the recent New Conservatory play about Milk’s life; Randall Mann, local poet and winner of the 2003 Kenyon Review Prize in Poetry; Sister Roma, drag artist and 20-year member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and; Andrea Shorter, political activist. Organized by the Castro Community Benefit District.

May 22nd
All day at the GLBT History Museum they will be giving free admission to all visitors and providing special Milk-related displays and tours. In addition, the museum is extending a welcome to Bay Area schools, many of which plan GLBT history activities in conjunction with Harvey Milk Day.

At 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 at the Castro Theatre, the non-profit group, Friends of Harvey Milk, will be showing the film MILK which charts the last eight years of Milk’s life and his political platform, revealing a legacy that resonates in the here and now.

At 7PM at Books, Inc., in comemmoration of Harvey Milk’s birthday the SF GLBT History Museum and Books Inc. present An Archive of Hope: Harvey Milk’s Speeches and Writings, with editors Jason Edward Black and Charles E. Morris III, photographer & former employee at Harvey Milk’s camera shop Daniel Nicoletta, and Harvey’s speechwriter, Frank Robinson. Check out our review of the book.

End of Week Updates: Nude Activists Convicted, Castro’s New Bulging Baskets (of Flowers) & More

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This week has raced by and April is nearly at an end. Summer is looming as spring draws to a close and we find ourselves checking back in on a  number of posts to find out what their status is. In no particular order or level of import here goes:

Trey Allen at SF City Hall protesting the new nudity ban on 2/1. (Photo: Justin Sullivan)

Trey Allen at SF City Hall protesting the new nudity ban on 2/1. (Photo: Justin Sullivan)

Nude activists, Russell ‘Trey’ Allen, Oxane ‘Gypsy’ Taub and Dist. 8 Supervisor candidate, George Davis were arrested and cited for violating the brand new nudity ban when they showed the full monty at a rally outside City Hall on Feb. 1 that we posted on, the day the ordinance went into effect. On Tues. the 23rd all were found guilty. They now hold the double honor of first arrested and first convicted under the Wiener Nudity Ban. They were each ordered to pay a $100 fine and $92 in court fees. Their Defense attorney Christina DiEdoardo plans to appeal in 30 days. Miss Taub and Mr. Stevens will be facing the judge again following a second arrest for dancing nude at Jane Warner Plaza.

flowers-one-castroThe 3rd Annual Flowers on Castro Benefit sponsored by the Castro Community Business District (CBD) and Herth Realty on April 18th that we posted about was a smashing success according to all who attended and CBD Exec Director, Andrea Aiello raising 2,000 more than the previous year. The event held at Herth Realty’s office on Castro St.  brought in over 10,334 dollars toward their 15,000 dollar goal in donations and art sales that will be used to replace and maintain the neighborhoods hanging baskets of flora. On Tuesday ten new baskets were installed along the village’s main strip. Art is still available for purchase at Herth’s office and you can peruse it as you will or donations can be made directly here. Special thanks to all the artists whose work was used, restaurants  Pica Pica, Fable and Poesia for providing the food and Swirl who supplied wine for the event. Pix from the event here.

SF State Sen. Mark Leno

SF State Sen. Mark Leno

Early this week we posted Sen. Mark Leno had introduced a bill, SB 635, that would allow individual communities to decide to extend their bar and clubs last calls from the current California limit of 2 AM to 4 AM. Despite a large push for the bill from within the Entertainment and Nightlife Industry the bill was rejected in committee. This is the second time our Senator has introduced this legislation. It has the ability to be brought back again before committee but not this year. It will have to go back and start its upstream swim again through political shark infested waters.  Mr. Leno has made noise that he believes that with the growing number of constituents in favor of the bill the next time up will see a different result. Who knows-maybe three times the charm?

Rally at City Hall in favor of changing SFO to Harvey Milk International Airport. (Photo; SJ Mercury News)

Rally at City Hall in favor of changing SFO to Harvey Milk International Airport. (Photo; SJ Mercury News)

And finally, Dist. 9 Supervisor David Campos’ push to rename SFO for Harvey Milk continues to seek its last supporter from among the other members of the Board of Supervisors so it can move forward. We’ve been posting on this issue since it broke. So far he has five out of the six co-sponsors from his fellows to go forward. Where the elusive sixth nod will come from has proven difficult. The freshmen members of the BOS-Norman Yee, London Breed and recent Mayor Lee appointee for Dist 4 Katy Tang-have been reluctant to sign on. Citing a variety of concerns from cost of the name change to the City or constituent balking at the idea-many think other titans of SF politics and civic duty are equally deserving as Milk have been used by the new Supes to withhold sponsorship. Campos remains undeterred and believes that in the end he will be triumphant.

REVIEW: “An Archive of Hope: Harvey Milk’s Speeches and Writings”

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An Archive of Hope: Harvey Milk’s Speeches and Writings
Ed. by Jason Edward Black and Charles E. Morris III

An Archive of Hope Book Cover

An Archive of Hope – Edited by Jason Edward Black and Charles E. Morris, III

Harvey Milk is arguably the most recognizable figure in the history of the modern gay rights movement. His smiling face represents the hope of many of us for a brighter, more open future for LBGT people. In the introduction to An Archive of Hope, Frank Robinson poignantly says, “We desperately wanted to find a gay hero. I never realized I had found mine until the day that Harvey died.”

In this collection of Harvey Milk’s writings, put together by Black and Morris, you certainly get the message of Hope with a capital H. At the end of the day, it’s Hope that keeps you going, that buoys you to face daily challenges; it’s Hope that saves lives. What really becomes clear in Milk’s letters and speeches is that he was also a very hands-on, practical guy who built bridges of community around many issues, not only on LGBT rights.

The star of this book is the famous and inspiring speech “You’ve Got to Have Hope,” a bold statement of Milk’s political vision that’s practically a call for Queer Nationalism. Darker, but equally dramatic, is a transcription of the tape recording of Milk’s “Political Will”, which “is to be played only in the event of my death by assassination.” These may be the two book-ends to Milk’s speeches, yet there is a lot more to his writing than being a figurehead for a movement.

(credit: via LiveOutLoud)

(credit: via LiveOutLoud)

For example, Milk was also a big supporter of unions. In an article for the Bay Area Reporter, Milk outlines his support of the boycott on Coors Beer, a boycott started by the fairly conservative AFL-CIO; according to the book’s intro, Milk asked that the union give LGBT people jobs instead of asking for their support for his election campaign. Contained here is also part of an address given to the Longshoreman’s Union in 1973, advocating that The City should hire police and other workers who actually live in The City. Milk would have needed some chutzpah to stand as an openly gay man in front of such a group; and the fact that he won them over is a testament to his ability to erase divisions between people with a common cause. He also addressed issues ranging from seniors, housing and rent control, Latino and African American civil rights, and Apartheid, all the way to mundane things like dog poop in the parks.

(credit: Terry Schmitt)

(credit: Chronicle / Terry Schmitt)

When Harvey Milk was murdered at City Hall in 1978, I was a nine-year-old living in the suburbs of the East Bay. Many of my LGBT friends, the ones who came a generation ahead of mine, knew Harvey. I’ve always wished I could claim that myself. What really comes through in this collection of articles, flyers, writings and speeches, is the person the way he was. In my imagination, I can hear his voice as I read his words. He’s idealistic, sure; but also brash and irreverent, sometimes angry and outraged, and occasionally tongue-in-cheek: “I’m Harvey Milk, and I’m here to recruit you.” While I’m glad An Archive of Hope pulls together Milk’s literary legacy, hugely important for the benefit of historians, students and future activists, what is most important for me is the portrait of the person that comes through the work, because now I can feel just a little bit like I knew him too.

Available online and at Books, Inc (2275 Market Street).

Meet and Greet:

On May 22nd, Harvey Milk’s birthday, the editors of An Archive of Hope will appear at Books Inc., 2275 Market St., at 7:30 pm. Jason Edward Black and Charles E. Morris III will be joined by novelist and screenwriter Frank Robinson, Harvey’s friend and sometimes speechwriter. Robinson authored the introduction to the book. Also appearing will be Daniel Nicoletta, the noted photographer, activist, and former employee at Harvey Milk’s business Castro Camera and whose photograph graces the book’s handsome front cover. This event is co-sponsored by the SF GLBT History Museum, and supported by the Harvey Milk Democratic Club.

Flashback: the Elephant Walk

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The Elephant Walk Bar and Restaurant (credit: Véronique Errera)

The Elephant Walk Bar and Restaurant (credit: Véronique Errera)

Biscuit reader Véronique shared with us this photo above from the 1980′s of the Elephant Walk bar (now Harvey’s at 500 Castro Street). The photo shows the Castro Street side of the restaurant with the 24 and 35 line bus stop and a sword player with an apple floating in front of him. No doubt he’s slicing and dicing it for the crowds entertainment at one of the Castro’s many street festivals. Harvey’s Restaurant pays homage to this peice of Castro’s history on their website saying,

“On November 27, 1974 (which coincidentally is the same date that Harvey Milk was assassinated in 1978)  Fred Rogers and David Manducca opened the Elephant Walk bar/restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Anderson’s Pharmacy at 500 Castro St . During that time, Castro neighborhood merchant, Harvey Milk owned and operated a camera shop up the street from The Elephant Walk. He praised the bar and hailed it as a place where the gay community could meet, feel safe and secure while at the same time be visible to the whole world. Milk soon became known for his passion and was dubbed the ‘Mayor of the Castro’ –a title that suited him well and permitted him to be a voice and heart for the community.

The bar began to thrive as people within the community embraced their sexuality. The Elephant Walk brought the community together and in the 1970s became a venue for internationally renowned singer and performer Sylvester . As gay culture grew and the neighborhood took shape, Milk became increasingly inspired and motivated by his community’s support. It wasn’t long before he progressed from the Mayor of the Castro to becoming the first openly gay member elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Not only was this promotion a feat for Milk and his career, but for the gay community as well.

Harvey took office on January 8, 1978 and his new role on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors was not without controversy. Tragically, on November 27th, 1978, both Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed in their City Hall offices by fellow board member Supervisor Dan White.

On March 21, 1979 White was convicted of the crime but only charged with manslaughter. Outraged by the verdict, the community numbering in the thousands marched to City Hall in protest. During the march some isolated groups smashed windows, set trash cans ablaze, hurled bottles and rocks through windows and set fire to several police cars. In response to the riots the San Francisco police started one of their own. They targeted The Elephant Walk and began breaking the windows, damaging the property and beating the patrons inside the bar in rebuttal to the downtown riots. While the district mourned the loss of their ‘heart’ they drew on strength from one another to cope with the blow to the community.

The Elephant Walk continued to thrive until December 2, 1988 when a fire nearly destroyed the building. It took four years and a lot of work to complete its’ restoration.

In 1996 the owner of the building reopened the bar as ‘Harvey’s', in memory of the Great Harvey Milk. He was known the community over as a fun-loving person who would have loved the thought of a place where gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people could thrive, raise gay consciousness and a sense of our history. More than a decade after its’ opening, Harvey’s has remained a historical monument and pillar to the gay community.”

UPDATE: Renaming SFO for Harvey Milk Could Cost Less Than Projected

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Harvey Milk Int'l AirportNew development in the Biscuit’s ongoing coverage of Dist. 9, Sup. David Campos quest to rename SFO in honor of slain civil rights leader and LGBT icon, Harvey Milk. SF Examiner has revealed a reports been released dispelling opponents worries that the name change would cost millions-instead-the estimated figure to accomplish the project is closer to 350K-500K.

Originally, based on what kind of bucks it cost other municipalities like Baltimore who renamed their airport for the late, groundbreaking, SCOTUS Justice, Thurgood Marshall.  the estimated figure of  $4.2 million dollars was bandied about by SFO officials who’ve made no secret they’re against the re-christening.

This new, lowered, cost report compiled by the SF Budget and Legislative Analysis Department states that while high costs could be a later factor, initially, changing the big kahuna of the SFO signage, the massive one splayed across the front of SFO would run about $355K.

Other signage-highway and freeway signs that direct traffic guiding drivers could, in theory, be allowed to remain labeled the generic variations for ‘SF International Airport’-keeping the budget from ballooning.

Each large freeway sign change is estimated to cost $20K to amend. Multiply that by the thirty-six signs CalTran would have to repurpose with the new Milk moniker and you see the cost of the rename skyrocketing.

Sup. David Campos (Photo: SF Democratic Party Website)

Sup. David Campos (Photo: SF Democratic Party Website)

Campos expressed confusion as to why SFO officials had floated out such inflated numbers regarding the name change beyond the obvious reasons of stirring up opposition from fiscally concerned members of the voting public.

He also remains confident he can drum up corporate and private donor funds to make the name change a reality so no money would have to be suctioned out of the San Francisco’s treasury.

Campos has secured five of the six votes needed from his fellow Supes-including Dist. 8 Scott Wiener-to bring the issue before the voters as a ballot measure in November. He feels confident he can secure the sixth co-sponsoring nod on the issue from either Malia Cohen, Dist. 10, or Dist. 5′s newly elected London Breed.

If the Milk name change reaches the ballot and is approved by SF voters our City would become the first in the world to name an internationally recognized airport in honor of one of its LGBT citizens.

Supervisor Campos as one of two out and proud Gay men on the board believe that this gesture can translate into an international message of ‘hope and equality’ that Harvey famously championed to everyone who pass through the airports doors.