The Santa Ana City Council deadlocked on an emergency ordinance that would have required activists protesting at private residences to stay 300 feet away from the targeted home.
It would have taken a two-thirds majority vote of the council Tuesday night to adopt the restrictions as an urgency measure. Councilmember Thai Viet Phan had to leave the meeting earlier and the remaining councilmembers spilt 3-3, with those opposed saying while they didn’t support the disruption of neighbors’ lives, the right to protest and be heard is fundamental.
For months, community members have been calling on local leaders to take stands in the Israel-Hamas war. For the past few weeks, a group of pro-Palestinian activists have been going to U.S. Rep. Lou Correa’s home in Santa Ana asking that he call for a permanent ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. The proposed urgency ordinance referenced protesting that has targeted Correa’s home among examples of what would be addressed by enforcing a 300-foot distance requirement.
But City Attorney Sonia Carvalho emphasized that the ordinance was drafted by staff, not by any members of the City Council or by direction of Correa. Staff found that sections of the already-existing ordinance needed to be updated after being asked about the rules, she said.
Carvalho emphasized she could say “unequivocally” that the item was not brought forward with the intention to contest anyone’s First Amendment right. She also pointed to other cities including San Diego, El Monte, Fontana and Rancho Palos Verdes have adopted the very same distance requirements.
In a letter to the City Council, Correa urged the board to approve the ordinance to protect his neighbors and family.
“Recently, demonstrators have come to my home as early as 6:30 a.m. on weekends and 9 p.m. on weekdays with bullhorns and sirens,” Correa said in the letter. “While demonstrators claim to be civil and peaceful, the reality is much different. Many of my neighbors…
Read the full article here
