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RiversideCA.gov
ORDINANCE ADDING RMC CHAPTER 9.53 –PROHIBITION OF CARRYING OR POSSESSING SPECIFIED ITEMS WHILE ATTENDING OR PARTICIPATING IN ANY PUBLIC ASSEMBLYCity Attorney’s OfficeRiverside Police DepartmentCity Council October 8th, 2024 RiversideCA.gov2
•Public demonstrations and rallies conducted in California cities and college campuses nationwide have erupted in violence•Individuals and groups have used improvised weapons to inflict injury on members of the public attending these events and law enforcement personnel present•Various improvised items have been used, including but not limited to wood and metal pipes, poles, bats, chains, projectiles, glass bottles and containers filled with flammable or noxious substances, and aerosol sprays•Some subversive groups use social media platforms to instruct bad actors on tactics to inflict terror. Instructions have included the wearing of masks and face coverings during these events.BACKGROUND1 2 9/26/2024
2 RiversideCA.gov3
MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED TO PROTEST PARTICIPANTS
RiversideCA.gov4
VIOLENCE/WEAPONS DURING PROTESTSRiverside 2020 – Fireworks thrown at officers Portland, OR 2022 – Weapons found on protestorsMinneapolis – participants all maskedRiverside 2020 – “No Face, No case” shirt, possible projectile staged at feet 3 4
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•It is imperative that individuals be able to engage in peaceful expressive public activity without fear of violence and injury.•It is also important that members of the public and law enforcement encountering these events are able to due so without fear of suffering injury.•The proposed regulations are necessary in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare.•The content-neutral time, place, and manager restrictions allow for peaceful public expressive activity and address the City’s interest in public safety NEED FOR MUNICIPAL CODE RiversideCA.gov6
•Cal State and UC systemsInstituted policy that face coverings; masks andother attempts to conceal one’s identity are not allowed “with the intent ofintimidating and harassing any person or group, or for the purpose of evadingor escaping discovery, recognition, or identification in the commission ofviolations”•Cities ofBerkeley, Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, Modesto, Oakland, SantaMonica, and others have put in place ordinances prohibiting, or authorizingthe issuance of regulations prohibiting, the carrying at protests, publicassemblies, and community events of items that can readily be used asweapons•Nassau County, New York -The Mask Transparency Act, signed into law makesit a misdemeanor for anyone to wear a facial covering to hide their identity inpublic.•Charlottesville, Virginia adopted similar ordinances as a result of an after-action report recommendation.SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS5 6 9/26/2024
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•Section 9.53 – Prohibition Carrying or possessing specified items while attending or participating in any public demonstration, gathering, rally, protest, picket line or public assembly–Will limit items such as but not limited to wooden sticks, metal and plastic pipes, baseball bats, aerosol sprays, weapons, glass bottles, metal containers, shields, gas masks, helmets, body armor, bricks and rocks that can and have been weaponized at protests, public assemblies, and community events, while still allowing for peaceful expressive activity.–Face coverings and other disguises would also be prohibited, except for coverings worn due to religious beliefs, practices or observances or due to medical necessity.See Exhibit A (Full Code) RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE RiversideCA.gov8
Strategic Priority 2 Community Well-Being Goal 2.4STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT 7 8
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That the City Council introduce and subsequently adopt an ordinance to amend the Riverside Municipal Code to add Chapter 9.53 Prohibition on carrying or possessing specified items while attending or participating in any public demonstration, gathering, rally, protest, picket line, or public assembly.Delete Section 9.12.065.RECOMMENDATIONS9