More than 92% of the over 2700 people taken into police amid widespread protest in Los Angeles were apprehended for either curfew violations or a failure to disperse, the Los Angeles Police Department revealed on Tuesday. Arguably, this indicates sweeping arrests were made of peaceful protesters railing in the name of Minneapolis’ George Floyd, Louisville’s Breonna Taylor, and other Black people who saw their lives snuffed by murderous police officers. Yet on Wednesday, LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva blamed looters for the curfew, even if they’re not the people filling up his paddy wagons. He also vowed to punish the community he’s supposed to protect and serve if people continue to exercise their First Amendment rights.
“The curfew will continue on a daily basis until the organized protests are gone,” Villanueva told KTLA on Tuesday, blaming peaceful protesters for providing cover for the looters he claims are the real problem, even if they’re not the majority of people who police are rounding up every day.
Before Villanueva’s big promise, the ACLU had already responded to the Sheriff’s attempt to chill the protests.
In a letter to LA Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the ACLU of Southern California voiced disgust with the existing and past curfews.
”We recognize that in the last few days some individuals have damaged and stolen property in areas where many others have engaged in peaceful protests, but that unlawful conduct cannot justify a state of emergency in the entire county that effectively places over 10 million people under house arrest for twelve hours every evening and morning,” the letter read. “The Constitution does not permit the County to order such a sweeping restriction on free speech and travel across a county of 10 million people to address a few localized attacks on property.”
Wednesday brought a much later curfew for the City (and County) of Angels, pushing the enforcement time to 10pm, far later than previous curfews, which all started before the sun went down.
Like you, dear reader, I’ve spent a long time on social media each day since this righteous Black outrage flooded the nation’s streets. Somewhere along the way, II read “A curfew is just the cops telling us when they hope to start the riots,” and it’s stuck with me, especially as I watch live coverage of curfews kicking on in various cities. With that unattributed quote in mind, Sheriff Villanueva’s tough talk to KTLA on Tuesday was particularly offensive.
“If you’re just a static presence as law enforcement in uniform, all you end up doing is you become a target for people to just start throwing things at you,” Villanueva told KTLA. “And that’s why the curfew gives us the advantage because then anyone who is present we have the probable cause to arrest, and we are making arrests by the hundreds.”
This uprising has shattered arrest records in the County, thanks to the curfews, which, with just a click of a minute hand, transform lawful protesters into lawbreakers. As footage across the country shows law enforcement inciting violence and escalating fraught situations, it’s hard not to think of that random internet quote, isn’t it?
Unfortunately for Sheriff Villanueva, Los Angeles isn’t staying home. Wednesday may have seen the biggest march yet, as protesters flocked downtown to surround the Hall of Justice. It’s worth noting that Black Lives Matter has protested here weekly for some time, targeting District Attorney Jackie Lacey and demanding more prosecutorial oversight and action when it comes to police misconduct. Today’s protest of Lacey was accompanied by calls for Justice for George Floyd.
This is a lovely display of resistance and Black joy.
Here’s a chant you won’t see on TV.
Here’s a dizzying peek from the center of the protest.
It’s always so nice when people are creative with their videos.
There are so many powerful videos. This is what protest looks like.
Just in case law enforcement got confused, marchers made it clear what this gathering was.
Mad Men actor and writer-producer Kit Williamson did his part to counter the “protesters bad” narrative.
Any time is the right time for a “hey hey, ho ho” chant.
But back to the Sheriff—as previously noted, his attempt to chill the right to protest really didn’t work.
Rather than trying to shut down protesters by punishing the entire county, and trying to shift public opinion along the way, perhaps Sheriff Villanueva, as well as LAPD Chief Michel Moore—who said he blamed looters for the death of George Floyd before walking it back—might consider listening to the community.
Just a thought. Black lives matter.