Beverly Hills has unexpectedly become a central hub of protest in the last five months. While some protests seem to target the community for its wealth and privilege, other demonstrations seem unconnected with the City itself. Since civil unrest broke out following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, reigniting the Black Lives Matter movement and sending tens of thousands of Angelenos to the streets, Beverly Hills has seen looting, civil disobedience, rallies, and marches on a near weekly basis. During this time, the City has halted enforcement of its usual regulations regarding parades and assemblies.
But on the precipice of Election Week, the Beverly Hills City Council has amended its Urgency Ordinance to include new provisions on assemblies in the City. Concluding a marathon seven-hour Regular Meeting that started on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. and went until 2 a.m. the next day, the Council placed new restrictions on large gatherings in the City that will go into effect on Nov. 4. The ordinance includes restrictions on the time and place assemblies can happen.
