Last weekend, small groups of people, mostly not wearing masks or practicing social distancing, began protesting against restrictions designed to keep the population safe from the spread of COVID-19.
In Balboa Park, a small group of residents gathered at Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street to protest against the City and State shutdown orders. At the Hall of Justice downtown, a group of participants carried U.S. flags and homemade signs. San Diego police officers kept an eye on the protesters but decided not to issue citations even though gatherings of people are not allowed under the current stay-at-home orders.
The decision to not charge the protesters led a group known as People’s Alliance for Justice and its spokesperson, civil rights activist Rev. Shane Harris, to call for San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit and the City of San Diego to issue citations for the organizers and protesters.
“We believe that things would not look the same if it were mostly people of color gathering, noting they would have to pay a fee to the courts if they continue to defy this public health measure,” said Harris at the press conference. But Harris added: “This issue is not about politics, but about fairness in protest, and that some can get away with things others can’t simply because of the color of their skin.”
Harris noted, under current lock-down restrictions, that people can’t even gather in churches while pointing out protesters last weekend took it upon themselves not to honor any social gathering restrictions now in place.
In a joint press release on April 20, San Diego Police Department and San Diego Sheriff’s Department officials said: “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our region and the nation, we are reminded of the delicate balance between the right to protest and enforcement of public safety laws. The SDPD and SDCS both recognize the public’s desire to express their First Amendment rights, while balancing it with the need to enforce the public health orders.
“Over the weekend, protests were held across the County against Gov. Newsom’s Executive Order and the County’s Public Health Order,” continued the joint law enforcement release. “A large protest was held in Downtown San Diego in front of Superior Court. Several hundred protesters gathered to voice their frustration, anger, and disagreement with the governmental orders. Both on Saturday and Sunday, the protests remained peaceful, and once people’s voices were heard, the protests ended.”
Concluded the joint press release: “Numerous warnings have been given along with citations to those who violated these orders. Although the protests were allowed to take place, we must not forget the public health orders were put in place to protect our communities from the spread of COVID-19. While no citations were issued at the protests, that does not mean prosecution will not be sought, especially to the organizers of these events. Although these orders have caused great strain to all of us, they are in place to save lives. The SDPD and SDCS will continue to enforce the health orders.”