The Women’s Building walks away from conservative rally
February 5, 2020
Organizers for the #WalkAway campaign, led by Brandon Straka, held a rally in front of The Women’s Building in the Mission on Feb. 1, to promote a pathway out of the Democratic Party for members of the LGTBQ+ community and other groups who traditionally vote blue.
#WalkAway is a group dedicated to encourage traditionally democrat voting blocs to leave the party. The group believes the Democratic Party drives a narrative of violence, vandalism, race-baiting and fake news.
The event was originally scheduled to be held inside The Women’s Building but a tweet posted by Straka three hours before start time, detailed that “The Women’s Building of SF has caved to extremist leftists who have labeled #WalkAway ‘anti-homeless community.’”
Members of #WalkAway led by Scott Presler organized a clean up outside of SF town hall earlier Saturday morning. At the clean up Presler and cleaners were accused of being anti-homeless.
“Isn’t it a kinda of like a negative comment on how you feel about homeless people if you’re like ‘no they like living in trash, leave the trash all around them,’” said Straka, “I mean I think even homeless people enjoy living in a clean neighborhood.”
Straka shared a screenshot of an email #WalkAway was sent from the Women’s Building Booking Director, Olivia Herrera, which read that “we cannot execute the proposed contract…The disparagement of a group, in this case, the homeless population, would be against the terms of the proposed contract.” who wrote this email?
Herrera sent an email on Jan. 17 stating that the #Walkaway group had no risk of losing the space unless they cancelled.
A panel of speakers that included Blaire White, Mike Harlow, Scott Presler and Straka were to speak at the #WalkAway rally but instead voiced their grievances with the Democrat Party on the sidewalk of 18th street outside the venue to a crowd of supporters and counter-protesters.
“I want everybody to hear me loud and clear,” Presler yelled, “I reject the Democrat Party!”
Presler stood microphone in hand to list out his criticisms which include an accusations the democrats have locked up black men and given undocumented immigrants priority attention.
“Why do democrats hate Blacks so much that Blacks come last?” asked Presler.
Presler and many supporters in the crowd expressed their intent to vote for President Donald Trump in the 2020 general election.
“This is like Stonewall for LGTB conservatives, we’re gonna fight back,” said Straka.
Proponents for #WalkAway were met with chants of opposition throughout the two hour long affair.
“Queers, straights, blacks, whites all unite to fight the right!”
“Fascist fascist go away racist sexist anti-gay!”
“We stand together we say no, this racist shit has got to go!”
Youtube personality Blaire White, who is transgender and who covers social and political topics on her channel, was present at the protest to meet up with fans and eventgoers. She along with the other members of the panel were supposed to be speaking inside the venue.
“Unfortunately there’s no productive conversation happening here today,” said White, “there’s only two sides screaming at each other which is not what I do.”
White expressed the want for people to think for themselves and not because of their skin color, sexuality, or gender orientation. She believes that it is hard for people to stand for what they believe in.
“I have fans who are scared,” said White, “people get intimidated and it’s just unfortunate.”
Karina Navarro, a fan of White, attended the event to hear the many perspectives on the panel. Navarro felt there were more people protesting that she originally thought.
“I’m in the LGBT community as well and I’m very against what they have done politically,” said Navarro.
She is leaning towards voting Trump in the 2020 election citing a lack of “good candidates.”
“Even though their venue is shut everything down we still come to hear what they say and that’s more important than just sitting comfortably in a venue.”
Czerny • Feb 13, 2020 at 1:47 am
I’m a mature Asian woman, a college teacher of English As A Second Language to immigrants. I’ve voted Democrat all my life until 2016. Everyday I see that my walking away is being vindicated by the irrational behavior of the left. I will never vote Democrat again. The radical leftists have warped the Democrat party into a party of monstrous irresponsible lunatics who want total power over this country. I attended the #WalkAway march in Oct 2018 and I will be at the Unsilent #WalkAway march this Oct 3rd. I have come home. Thank you, patriots, for welcoming me.
Patti Moseman • Feb 10, 2020 at 1:28 pm
Please edit my first comment to remove the word (are)🤓
Patti MOseman • Feb 10, 2020 at 1:24 pm
The lefties are SO afraid that their ideology doesn’t have merit that they are refuse to debate their views in an open forum. Instead, like oppressive regimes, they seek to muzzle the voices of those they disagree with. They actually remind me of out-of-control adolescents who scream obscenities when they can’t have their way. Pathetic!
Anita McAllister • Feb 7, 2020 at 10:16 am
The #WalkAway Campaign is the most accepting, loving group of people I have ever been a part off. It’s a shame that people who haven’t done any research and know nothing about this organization continue to bash it.
I personally think Ms. Herrera did us a favor in the long run by exposing more of the left’s hatred and unacceptance. If you watch the videos being done during the rally, you will see that #WalkAway members do not threaten people; they show compassion toward the people flinging their double-middle fingers and cursing incessently in their faces.
mary • Feb 7, 2020 at 10:04 am
The left is petrified of people with open minds. The Walk Away movement is full of people who don’t care if you’re black, white, gay, straight, Jew, Christian, atheist–they’re all patriots fighting to keep this country strong and follow the tenets of our Constitution. We don’t want socialism, we don’t want communism. We love America–and the left is using all sorts of lame excuses to diminish this movement. Poor babies. They’re losing.
Paige Hockman • Feb 6, 2020 at 8:55 pm
I watched the live feed. I watched the #walkaway group be verbally attacked by dozens of lesbians primarily. The women wouldn’t even have dialogue. The #walkaway group was mostly gay men, transgender men, a couple of drag queens & a few straight men and women. They were picking up trash for SF residents early in the day and they were just there to have dialogue about WHY they were converting to Republican. They love America and they don’t want open borders, sanctuary cities and higher taxes. They don’t feel DJT is homophobic, racists or sexist. VERY EMBARRASSING THAT THR WOMEN’s CENTER cancelled a contract with such free thinkers.
Lizz in Virginia • Feb 6, 2020 at 6:49 pm
THANK YOU….As a #walkaway member…I happen to be a 60 yr old disabled Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, a widow, a mother & grandmother….
We are very proud of all our members as it has been far worse for many of them to come out as Conservative or Republican then it was for them to come out as gay or anything else…
We may not always agree on everything with each other but we do support each others civil rights and are still very capable of having civil discourse.
BRANDON STRAKA AND ALL OF OUR PANELISTS…simple give the opportunity to those who wish to open their minds to truth and other perspectives…and are free to politely express theirs as well in these town halls…This is how it use to be like in college but the extreme left has exorcised those discussions right out of existence…
We are expected to accept the Democrat talking points as they are period! It is a shame we have come to this…I grew up in a very open society in comparison where people were free to think for themselves….
We don’t actually tell you who to vote for but we do encourage you to do your own research and not believe all the hate and lies…
WE HAVE THE 2ND AMENDMENT TO DEFEND THE 1ST!!!!.
J • Feb 6, 2020 at 6:46 pm
Why does it say
Suggested graph: explaining what #walkaway is supporting and some context
Noralee Free • Feb 6, 2020 at 6:37 pm
SF: stop being stupid. Vote for your city. Your residents can’t afford otherwise
David steele • Feb 6, 2020 at 6:05 pm
A reasonable piece about #walkaway, unbiased and without any hyperbolic statements. Thanks
Angelica Ryan • Feb 6, 2020 at 3:22 pm
Go to a hotel to meet and have a ‘town hall’
They will not cancel you.