A “flash mob” danced to the Beatles tune, “All You Need Is Love,” in the statehouse rotunda today. Sonia Ashe of Des Moines helped organize it. “This is just a group of Iowans coming out today, trying to spread the message for love for everyone and in support of gay marriage here in Iowa,” Ashe says.

The “flash mob” specifically was planned for Valentine’s Day, which Ashe describes an the “internationally-recognized day of love.” Heather Davis of Des Moines was among the dancing mob.

“We are mothers, sisters, brothers, lovers. We’re all friends. We’re all family. I mean, it’s a pretty diverse group,” Davis said. “We have schoolchildren and their moms here and businessmen.” The term “flash mob” describes a sudden gathering of people, designed to garner attention for a brief time before the “mob” disperses.