Politics & Government

City Council Stresses Protection in Light of Protests

The San Marino City Council sent a mass email message Friday explaining protesters' rights and the San Marino Police Department's role in light of the most recent protest outside a San Marino home. What do you think?

One woman was arrested for trespassing onto the lawn of , while the dozens of other protesters moved to a buffer zone enforced by the San Marino Police Department and assisting agencies.

As part of a , protesters are required to assemble at least 150 feet from the front door of a home or 75 feet from the property line, whichever is further.

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To emphasize protesters’ rights and law enforcement’s role during such residential protests, the sent the following message Friday to residents who subscribe to CLEARS messages from the San Marino Police Department:

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The City Council and the City Administration are communicating with you in this way to assure our residents that we regard protection of property and privacy as one of our primary duties. Last fall an ordinance was adopted setting strict limits which "Occupy" type demonstrators may not cross in residential neighborhoods. These boundaries have been, and will continue to be strictly enforced by our San Marino Police, and when necessary with assistance from neighboring police departments pursuant to local mutual aid agreements. If violations occur, an unlawful assembly will be declared and the assembly will be dispersed.

Such protests cannot be prohibited completely in light of Constitutional rights of assembly and free speech, but they can and will be strictly controlled.

Please feel free to contact any member of the City Council, the City Manager or the Chief of Police if you have any questions or require further information.

The CLEARS message from the City Council came eight days after a May 4 San Marino Tribune editorial that criticized how the SMPD and City Council and staff handled the protest, saying, “Since when did a private residence become a public protest area? Under the law, it is not …” despite the fact that protesters were within their rights to protest within the buffer zone on the street.

“If the SMPD can’t (or won’t) defend a family from terrorists, it’s time to end the SMPD and bring in the Sheriff’s Department,” said the Tribune, who added that City Council members should be recalled if they don’t take action against the protesters, who the publication also referred to as “anarchists.”

San Marino Police and a protest organizer told Patch at the April protest that they think law enforcement handled the protest well, in contrast with the that involved dozens of protesters on Sloan's front lawn and led to residents and draft up the buffer zone ordinance.

Do you think the San Marino Police Department, City Council and staff handled the recent protest well? Do you consider the protesters “terrorists” or “anarchists?” Share your thoughts in the comments section below. 


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