No justice of the peace, no peace!

Same-sex couples in San Diego gathered at the County Clerk's offices today, but instead of getting marriage licenses as planned, they protested a stay on the recent ruling that overturned Proposition 8. One couple presented clerk David Butler with a letter outlining their legal reasons for requesting a marriage license despite the stay. Another couple was joined by protesters in blocking the doors to the marriage license division of the office. Nine were arrested in the peaceful protest. (NOTE: I originally posted that 12 were arrested based on information I got from a spokesman at the scene. They revised their numbers down. I thought 12 sounded too high when I heard it.)

Access wasn't blocked, and at least three straight couples entered the offices to get married during the protest.

Click the photos to see them bigger.
Tyler Dylan-Hyde (ctr) and his partner Tony Dylan-Hyde (left) present S.D. County Clerk David Butler (rt) with a letter asking to be granted a marriage license.
Brian Baumgardner (3rd from right), his partner Michael J. Anderson (second from right) and others block the entrance to the marriage license division of the county clerk's office Thursday morning. Both were later arrested.
Protesters block an entrance to the marriage license division of the county clerk's office in the San Diego County Administration Building Thursday. Some protesters were later arrested.
Sheriff's deputies discuss strategy down the hall from the protesters.
Sheriff's deputies gather in the hallway where protesters blocked acess to the marriage license division and warn them they will be arrested if they do not leave.
Protesters block the main entrance to the marriage license division of the county clerk's office in the San Diego County Administration Building Thursday. Some protesters were later arrested.
Sheriff's deputies crowd the hallway and prepare to make arrests of protesters.
Sean Bohac is lifted to his feet by sheriff's deputies and arrested.
Michael J. Anderson (right) tells sheriff's deputies, "shame on you!" before he and his partner Brian Baumgardner (left) are arrested.
Cecile Veillard, the last of the group, about to be arrested.
Cecile Veillard is arrested by sheriff's deputies.

UPDATE: I've seen at least one published report that said heterosexual couples were prevented from entering the offices to get their marriage licenses today. This was not the case. Here's a photo of some members of a wedding party entering the offices to get married, by walking along a wall behind deputies and protesters. That's the happy bride at far left, she's already in the office.