A Los Angeles City Council meeting erupted into chaos on Tuesday, with a public speaker climbing over a bench and onto the council floor to confront council President Nury Martinez, prompting police to fill the chamber.

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DISCUSSION

The below language is excerpted:

Zahniser, D., & Wick, J. (2022, Aug 10). Activist arrested as chaos disrupts council meeting; after speaker confronts L.A. official, police fill chamber. Los Angeles Times Retrieved from http://libdb.smc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/activist-arrested-as-chaos-disrupts-council/docview/2700187574/se-2 

A Los Angeles City Council meeting erupted into chaos on Tuesday, with a public speaker climbing over a bench and onto the council floor to confront council President Nury Martinez, prompting police to fill the chamber.

Officers apprehended a second member of the public on the council floor moments later, while activists screamed at police and at least one audience member sprayed water from a bottle on officers. One audience member was arrested, police said.

Martinez abruptly recessed the meeting, leaving dozens of activists in the room chanting “Abolish 41.18!” — a reference to the city law prohibiting homeless encampments at libraries, freeway overpasses and other locations. Shortly after 11 a.m., an LAPD captain declared an unlawful assembly within the chamber, prompting scores of protesters to file out.

“I’ve never seen anything like this — ever,” Councilman Joe Buscaino said after the room had cleared.

The incident took place one week after protesters brought another meeting — also dealing with the anti-encampment law — to a halt, chanting “shut it down” repeatedly until council members took an hourlong recess.

Martinez said Tuesday’s episode brought City Hall “one step closer” to the type of behavior that occurred in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, when protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol. At least five people died and more than 700 people were arrested in connection with the insurrection.

Around 11:45 a.m., the council reconvened.

“We cannot legislate in fear,” Martinez said, once the meeting resumed. “I certainly won’t.”

Sabrina Johnson, a co-founder of the activist group People’s City Council, said comparisons to Jan. 6 are “ridiculous.”

“It’s not like we’re storming the building. We’re going through security. We’re going through the proper channels,” Johnson said. “This is our only opportunity to give them feedback because they don’t answer phone calls and messages to their office.”

The skirmish on the council floor broke out during the meeting’s public comment period, with a majority of speakers denouncing a proposal to ban encampments next to schools and day-care centers. The council voted in favor of that measure last week, but because the tally was not unanimous, the proposal needed a second vote.

The meeting was tense from the start. Audience members hissed and shouted expletives at council members as they entered the room. Martinez told audience members to “grow up,” prompting jeers from the crowd. When Councilman Curren Price attempted to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, audience members booed.

Partway into public comments, one audience member approached the lectern and directly addressed Martinez, peppering those comments with expletives. The audience member attempted to move a bench bolted into floor, causing a loud crunch, then climbed over it and approached the council dais.

“I live on the f– streets,” the audience member yelled, as three police officers attempted to move the speaker toward the exit. While officers were attempting to detain the speaker, a second audience member entered the council floor. A line of police officers in riot helmets filed into the room.

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QUESTIONS

List the elements of the following crimes:

Riot

Unlawful assembly

How does the mens rea of unlawful assembly differ from that of a riot? [1 to 2 sentences]

What facts from the Los Angeles Times article indicate that the protestors and their behavior met the standard for unlawful assembly? [1 paragraph or bulleted list]

Indicate how you, as an LAPD officer, would approach managing the protestors. Indicate whether you would try to use tear gas, rubber bullets, or other means — or if you would not intervene at all — and why. [1 paragraph]