Reject R-71 forces lock out the press

Security guards stood outside the election night party held by Protect Marriage Washington at the Holiday Inn in Everett tonight.

Larry Stickney, a leader of the group, did meet with members of the media in a side room at 8:30 p.m. He said the party was made private out of concern for the safety and privacy of those attending.

He said he and other leaders of the group had been the target of threats posted online in the past. More recently, a newspaper photo of girls involved in a reject Referendum 71 rally in southwest Washington showed up on a web site run by the same person who posted the threats against the leaders, he said.

Stickney said about 200 people did attend tonight and there were no incidents. He did claim they did nab a reporter from The Stranger trying to sneak in as a volunteer.