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ACLU, Black Lives Matter LA File Lawsuit Over Curfew Orders
People demonstrate against racism and police brutality at a protest in Hancock Park outside L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti's house on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.
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Samanta Helou Hernandez
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The American Civil Liberties Union and Black Lives Matter L.A. have filed a lawsuit against local political and law enforcement leaders, calling for an end to the "draconian curfews" imposed as largely peaceful protests continue throughout Southern California.
They say the curfew orders violate the constitutional protections of free speech and freedom of movement, as well as journalists' ability to report on the protests. The lawsuit states:
"Those orders have entirely eliminated all political protest in the night hours, during a time when thousands of law-abiding people seek to express their opposition to racially-discriminatory police violence. The orders have also prohibited a massive swath of entirely innocuous activity, including grocery shopping, recreational physical activity of any kind, and visits to loved ones, with only extremely narrow exceptions. And the orders have made it extremely difficult for certain journalists to report on what occurs at night."
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ACLU officials also cited a tweet from L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who Wednesday voiced that the curfew orders should be lifted.
I believe the curfews in LA County were needed Sunday night and Monday night — but now it seems like they are being used to arrest peaceful protesters. I don’t think they are needed anymore.
— Janice Hahn (@SupJaniceHahn) June 3, 2020
L.A. County and individual cities have instituted curfews every day since Sunday. Historically, experts we spoke with earlier this week said there's little evidence they actually reduce unrest.
The suit names L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, LAPD Chief Michel Moore, L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, county Supervisor Kathryn Barger, San Bernardino city manager and director of emergency services Teri Ledoux, San Bernardino Police Chief Eric McBride, and the cities of Los Angeles and San Bernardino.
READ THE FULL LAWSUIT BELOW:
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