, waiting intently for the outcome of the election. More important to them than any presidential race, though, was Minnesota's vote on a constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage.
Projectors turned one wall into a pair of giant televisions streaming television news channels, to which 90 percent of eyes in room were glued. Emotions ran high among the assembled activists. Each twitch in the election returns splashed on the screens caused great waves of cheers or ripples of gasps in the crowd.
For Lynnhurst synagogue Shir Tikvah's Rabbi Michael Adam Latz, the entire evening was a deeply personal affair, despite the leading role he and his congregation took in organizing opposition to the marriage amendment. Even early in the night, he was visibly moved by the event:
The local CBS news affiliate called “vote no” for us at 1:20 or 1:25 maybe, or 1:30. I am fairly certain that that was when I burst into pretty powerful tears for the next, I don't know, hour or so. It was just beautiful and holy and remarkable and powerful. That Margaret Mead woman was right: Never doubt what a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can actually do together.
Latz reflects on the campaign, and the experience of waiting for returns that evening, in an interview with MinnPost.
