Another Citywide Curfew Ordered In Beverly Hills

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The city of Beverly Hills on Monday announced two more citywide curfews, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning.

The first, in the city’s business district — encompassing the Business Triangle, Rodeo Drive, South Beverly Drive, Robertson Boulevard, and La Cienega Boulevard — will begin Monday at 1 p.m. until Tuesday at 5:30 a.m.

The second citywide curfew was initially scheduled for 4 p.m., but was moved up to 1 p.m. The Beverly Hills Police Department said that a citywide curfew will also go into effect on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

The city imposed curfews from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning after more than 2,000 protesters took to the city’s streets Saturday holding signs proclaiming “Justice for George Floyd,” “Black Lives Matter,” and “Eat the Rich,” among others. The protests were mostly peaceful at first, but events escalated when looters broke into the Alexander McQueen store on Rodeo Drive, and attempted to break into many other stores.

City spokesperson Keith Sterling reported that stores were vandalized with graffiti and broken windows.

At around 8 p.m. Saturday, the Beverly Hills Police, backed up by the National Guard and other neighboring police departments, sprayed tear gas into a crowd of 200-300 people gathered at Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard after it was deemed an unlawful assembly. The city then imposed a citywide curfew from Saturday night at 8 p.m. to Sunday at 5:30 p.m, right as the city of Los Angeles imposed a similar curfew.

The Beverly Hills City Council had an emergency closed door session Saturday to discuss the unfolding situation.

Sunday was calmer in Beverly Hills, with most of the looting and violence occurring in nearby Santa Monica. Sterling said that he did not know of any protests in the city on Sunday, and none have been reported Monday. A sit-in in nearby West Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard at Crescent Heights Boulevard planned for 4 p.m. Monday has been canceled, according to WEHOville.com and Access Online.

The curfew prohibits anyone from being on public streets, sidewalks, alleys, parks, or public places, according to a city news release. Cars are allowed to drive to work and for emergency, but police have the right to stop and question anyone out in public.

A city news release said the Beverly Hills Police Department is fully staffed and patrolling the entire city. The BHPD did not return Patch’s calls for comment, and its normal telephone number is currently resulting in a busy signal.

On Sunday afternoon, Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman and BHPD Interim Police Chief Dominick Rivetti released a joint video in which Friedman denounced the violence, and Rivetti assured that the department is doing everything it can to protect the city.

“This has been a difficult weekend in our city. Thousands of protesters marched through our streets to call attention to the devastating circumstances surrounding the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd,” said Friedman. “Sadly, there were multiple incidents of vandalism. Several stores, buildings, and public art pieces were damaged. This will not be tolerated in our city. It’s unfortunate that the message of the peaceful protesters has been damaged by criminal behavior.”

“The safety of the Beverly Hills community remains our top priority at all times,” said Rivetti. “We are working with our full BPHD staff and law enforcement partners to keep you, your home and family safe. Your pd remains committed to our core values and mission of police and community together. Now during these difficult times, it’s never been more important.”