Best Practices to Prioritize Safe and Secure Demonstrations
August 7, 2020
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Mayor's Office
- Individuals
and organizations have the lawful right to demonstrate if done in a lawful
manner.
- Remaining
orderly ensures an orderly response from law enforcement.
- Avoid
blocking sidewalks, streets or private driveways, or entrances to any private
or public place as that creates a problem for fellow citizens, flow of traffic
and public safety.
- Avoid
preventing anyone from entering or leaving a place or threatening anyone with
bodily harm.
- Demonstrators
may speak to people entering or leaving a place and may pass out leaflets and
or pamphlets.
- Every
demonstration or organization demonstrating should have a point of contact, who
is easily identifiable, who will act as a liaison between the Lancaster Bureau
of Police and the Bureau of Police should have one point of contact for the
group to communicate questions or challenges both ways.
- The
party being demonstrated against may sign a criminal complaint if a violation
of the law occurs on private property.
- If
something being protested against is an event with a permit, the permit holder
may exclude demonstrators from being within the permitted area. Demonstrators may, however, continue their
demonstrations outside of the permitted area provided their demonstrations are
conducted in a lawful manner.
- It
is the duty of the police agencies involved to protect the rights of all
persons, demonstrators and non-demonstrators alike, at the scene of a
demonstration.
- If
demonstrations continue late into the evenings, noise can create problems for
fellow citizens. Avoid loud noise past 10 PM in line with the Noise Ordinance.