Criminal charges against more than two dozen demonstrators arrested last summer in Beverly Hills must be tossed out because an emergency ordinance the city used to arrest the protesters is unconstitutional, a judge ruled Friday. “ Beverly Hills cannot prohibit legitimately targeted disturbances with a measure that equally prohibits innocent protected expression,” he wrote. If convicted under the ordinance, demonstrators faced up to six months in jail. “Today’s ruling was the result of a tremendous group effort of dedicated volunteer attorneys who were collectively dumbfounded and deeply concerned by the Beverly Hills ordinance,” said attorney Jerod Gunsberg. The June 26 demonstration was organized by a group called Black Future Project and drew about 75 people to Beverly Hills.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 19, 2021 23:45 UTC