The scene

Photo: Jason A. Heidemann

North by Northwestern “This is the biggest protest Evanston has seen in years!” shouted Andy Thayer, Gay Liberation Network cofounder, to a couple hundred angry but peaceful demonstrators who shook up a recent Saturday night in downtown Evanston. Some 250 people marched in front of the Century Theatre to warn people against patronizing the Cinemark movie chain (which owns Century) because its CEO, Alan Stock, donated $9,999 in support of Prop 8, the California ballot initiative that amended that state’s constitution to exclude same-sex couples from marrying. “That’s money that could’ve been given to any number of causes that don’t take away people’s rights,” said Patrick Capurro, a Chicago resident and native Californian. He was among many holding up signs reading FIGHT THE H8 and EQUALITY NOW while passing out slips of paper listing alternative venues for moviegoers and hugging hot cups of coffee hand-delivered by supportive employees at the Borders across the street. The protest caught the eye of at least one Century patron who decided against attending Quantum of Solace and instead grabbed hold of the biggest pride flag he could find and joined the cause.

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