Curfew Enacted In Contra Costa County

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Contra Costa County is now under a curfew until further notice as officials attempt to curb looting, arson, violence and vandalism seen across the Bay Area.

Everyone in the county must stay inside from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day, the Board of Supervisors decided during an emergency meeting held after its regular meeting Tuesday.

People are prohibited from being in public during the curfew order, unless they are traveling to or from their workplace or medical services. Homeless people and professions such as law enforcement, firefighters and emergency personnel are exempt.

Anyone who violates the curfew could be subject to a $1,000 fine or jail time, according to state law.

The board also declared a local emergency in Contra Costa County due to riots and looting that have occurred amid Bay Area demonstrations spurred by the killing of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer. The officer knelt on Floyd's neck, pinning him down after arresting him following a call reporting suspected forgery at a store. Floyd said he could not breathe and had no pulse when he was taken into an ambulance. The four Minneapolis police department officers at the scene were fired.

Supervisor Federal D. Glover dedicated Tuesday's meeting to the memory of Floyd and Dave Patrick Underwood, 53, of Pinole, the federal officer fatally shot in downtown Oakland Friday night. The shooting occurred during demonstrations, but it's unclear if the incidents were connected.

"The majority of protestors have acted peacefully and lawfully," the board declared in its emergency proclamation. "But some protests throughout the nation, including in cities such as Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose have given rise to injuries, looting, and property destruction."

Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek was struck by looters Sunday evening. Looters crashed through windows and ransacked high-end goods from stores such as Ray-Ban and LuLuLemon. There were no signs of protesters in the area.

Read: Looters Strike Walnut Creek, BART Station Closed

"We can't let the looting take us away from the real message ... the need to have an honest discussion about race in this country, and racism, and bias, and not let a few people hijack that larger message," said Supervisor John M. Gioia during the meeting.

Supervisor Diane Burgis spoke of a need to support protestors and businesses alike. She urged protesters to get tested for COVID-19 following the demonstrations, and wear masks, wash their hands and practice social distancing.

"There is quite a difference between protesting and speaking your mind, and looting and rioting and vandalism and violence," Burgis said. "There's a big difference there and we won't tolerate it."

Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda and Danville had previously issued their own curfew orders. Neighboring Alameda County issued a similar curfew order Monday, though the order expires Friday morning.

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the curfew order's exemptions.