Phil Shecter, UPenn senior, protesting in the crosswalk at 15th and Market streets Nov. 15. Media credit: Jamie Thomson

When I changed my Facebook status to report that I was protesting Prop. 8 at City Hall Nov. 15, a surprising amount of people asked me what good protesting in Philadelphia would do for a decision made in California.

My answer?

Freedom to love who you wish is not just a state issue — it’s a human issue.

There were protests in around 300 cities that day in the U.S. and a few other countries, as an estimated total of around 1 million people turned out to show opposition to Prop. 8 and the other anti-marriage measures that were passed on Nov. 4.

But what did that accomplish?

What it was meant to.

Protests aren’t about directly making change — they’re about spreading awareness of a message and demonstrating support to foster change. The average person has no power to change the law directly — we can only protest, write commentary, call our congressmen, and occasionally file a lawsuit, if we have the time and money to devote.

This afternoon I’m attending an event with David Codell, lead council for the anti-Prop. 8 lawsuit as well as the original California Supreme Court In Re Marriage case, so check back later for the inside story on the legal saga, and some video from the protest.