It may be the only free thing in Beverly Hills.
The wealthy city, known for its star-studded mansions and the luxury shops of Rodeo Drive, is considering introducing “free speech zones” at city-sponsored events.
City officials didn't say what specific protests sparked the idea, but the California enclave of 33,000 people has seen some crazy demonstrations recently.
Earlier this month, a man yelled at Beverly Hills police while walking through the city's National Anti-Crime Nighttime event. According to the Beverly Press.
May, Beverly Hills Street People Post to X He posted about a disruption at a city-sponsored art show, with the caption, “Transgender man disrupts Beverly Hills art show with bizarre story about Chanel and Nazis.”
And in March, Beverly Hills approved a display of photographs of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas across the street from the Vanity Fair post-Oscars party. The Beverly Press reports..
Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered, with one demonstrator using bear spray on another.
The free speech proposal would allow picketing and soliciting in designated areas at any city event.
People can apply for a spot and the city will provide them with signs, tables and chairs, according to a staff report.
Loudspeakers are prohibited.
Violations of the rules can result in warnings, expulsion and, for repeated violations, misdemeanor charges.
“When individuals express their opinions and ideas, it can really disrupt the flow of an event. And it leads to complaints. People are wondering why this activity is taking place and why it's incompatible with the event that's going on,” Beverly Hills Mayor Nancy Hunt Coffey said at a City Council study group on Aug. 20.
A Beverly Hills city representative told The Post that the proposal “needs further discussion and evaluation.”
“Beverly Hills' attempt to make large swaths of public space off-limits to protests is unconstitutional,” said Jonathan Markovits, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. “Similarly, by requiring protesters to identify themselves, the proposal would violate people's First Amendment right to speak anonymously and would needlessly expose the city to the risk of costly litigation that it would certainly lose.”
Aaron Wertheimer, an SEO marketing copywriter who lives in California, said he liked the intention of the proposal but didn't think it addressed the real issue, which is the need for respectful speech.
“I think having free speech zones goes against the ideals of our country,” he said. “Free speech is enshrined in the Constitution, so isn't every place a free speech zone? Perhaps it would be more useful to include places where harmful free speech is allowed.”
