Beverly Hills, the city famous for its luxurious mansions and high-end shopping district Rodeo Drive, may soon adopt a “free speech zone” at all city-hosted events. While city officials haven’t specified which recent protest inspired this proposal, the affluent California enclave has seen its fair share of unconventional demonstrations in recent months.
In July, a man disrupted Beverly Hills’ National Night Out Against Crime event by shouting at local police officers, according to the Beverly Press. In May, street performers at the city-sponsored art show caused controversy when they interrupted the event with a performance about Chanel and Nazis, as described by the online forum Street People of Beverly Hills. Additionally, in March, Beverly Hills approved the display of photos taken by Hamas of Israeli hostages to be displayed during and across the street from the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party. Pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators showed up at the event, with one demonstrator using bear spray against another, as reported by the Beverly Press.
The proposed “free speech zone” would permit individuals to engage in picketing and soliciting within designated areas at every city event. People interested in participating in these zones could register for a spot, and the city would provide signage, tables, and chairs for their use. However, loudspeakers would be prohibited within the zones. Violations of the rules could result in warnings, expulsions from events, or even misdemeanor charges for repeat offenders.
Beverly Hills City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey explained during an August 20th City Council study session that allowing individuals to express their opinions at city events can sometimes be disruptive and generate complaints from attendees who do not understand the purpose of these activities. She argued that a designated “free speech zone” could help mitigate these issues.
However, the proposal is not without its critics. A representative for the City of Beverly Hills told The Post that it needs further discussion and evaluation in the future. Jonathan Markovitz, staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, stated that any attempt by Beverly Hills to declare large areas of public space off-limits to protest would be unconstitutional. He argued that such a move would also violate protesters’ First Amendment right to anonymous speech and expose the city to costly litigation it is unlikely to win.
California resident Aaron Wertheimer, an SEO marketing copywriter, expressed mixed feelings about the proposal. While he likes its intent, he believes it fails to address the real issue – encouraging respectful speech during protests and demonstrations. I believe that having a free speech zone is antithetical to what our country stands for,” he said. Isn’t every place a free speech zone since free speech is codified in the bylaws of our Constitution? Perhaps what would be more helpful is to include a place where harmful free speech is allowed.
