On the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy in France, at least one large busload of people and several shuttle buses arrived at the South Coast Air Quality Management building in Diamond Bar. Armed with signs, buttons and clothing with messages supporting the elimination of gas furnaces and water heaters, the troops filed in and took their places. At 7:45 am, most of the seats were already taken for the meeting which was scheduled to begin at 9:00. The assembled multitude expected to be present for the triumph of electric HVAC and water heating over natural gas.
Hand-held signs in abundance were held up by attendees, but a sign in English and Spanish at the entrance to the building warned “No Posters, Costumes, or Props” and “No Megaphones/Bullhorns.” Armed sheriff deputies were posted outside and inside the building, and bags of those who entered were inspected. An abundance of pre-printed messages on 8 ½ X 11” papers (which were legal) were held up frequently. The Board had received 30,000 comment letters, so they were prepared for expressions of emotion.