“If the President of the United States thinks he can take actions that bring grave physical danger to many of his constituents, let him know he cannot.  If he thinks he can deprive a portion of the population of needed medical attention for political gain, then he will have to take another look.  The attack on his family was the direct result of his willful and malicious actions against gays.   If he expects us to weep or have sympathy on the members of his family as he has no concern for ours, he must think again.  We can have no concern about those who can treat us and our loved ones with such indifference.  Let him consider the wounding of his family as the first shot in the war to repeal this injustice.“

It came close to saying the group had helped in the attack.  The press attempted to ask questions.  One reporter asked if that meant that there would be more violence, Collette Harris responded, “I cannot comment at this time.”  A second question asked if she would herself take any action, she responded, “I cannot comment at this time.”

The demonstration then turned to chaos as demonstrators and counter-demonstrators clashed and the police mounted units tried unsuccessfully to restore order.  They were only able to prevent the people from entering the Mayor’s office by placing a line of mounted units in path of such entry and clubbing the ones that broke through into submission.  By the time the demonstration ended over fifty people were badly injured. 

In San Francisco the militant anti-gay group, “Get it Straight” held a rally in an area that would normally have been inhabited by gays.  Those not participating in the demonstration were forced into alleys.  Some were assaulted.  The speakers stood on corners with bull horns and encouraged their followers to take on the gays and eliminate them.  One stood and drew a large following with the press in attendance.  He made the following statement.

“Look at what has happened.  If this man had been able to carry out his plan, the president’s family would have been dealt a death sentence.  They would be living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue but it would really be death row.  This is not the first time these faggots have attempted to infect someone and in some cases they have been successful.  Let us begin to rid the country of this scourge.  Killing one of these perverts is the only way to remove the threat he or she poses to the good people of this society.  Let us begin the purge.”

The demonstrators left with renewed vigor and a resolve to rid the country of the menace.  By the end of the evening at least seven gay men were dead.  Several more were maimed. 

The First Family: Chapter 1 – Introduction

The First Family 21: There is No Sympathy From the Electorate

The First Family 23: Sandra is Attacked in the Press Again