Crime & Safety
Multiple Arrests In San Clemente Beach Parking Protest
The city council was deadlocked Tuesday on whether to remove fences from beach parking areas near the pier. On Thursday, protesters gathered
SAN CLEMENTE, CA —Fenced-off beach parking lots were the source of much turmoil Thursday morning. As many as 200 people arrived at the scene to protest the fences, according to Orange County Sheriff's Department officials. Between six and eight people were arrested for attempting to tear down the parking area fences. The names of those arrested have not yet been released as of this report.
The fencing around beach parking lots was designed to slim down crowds at the shoreline during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the interim San Clemente City Manager Robert Dunek.
On Thursday, it had the opposite effect for those who wanted the fences down.
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San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson pushed for Dunek to remove the fences during Tuesday's City Council meeting. Tuesday night, the council was deadlocked 2-2 on Ferguson's motions to reopen the beach parking lots and take down the fencing in advance of Memorial Day Weekend. Council members Chris Hamm and Kathleen Ward wanted city staff to analyze the issue more and report back to the council for further action, Ferguson said.
According to Orange County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman, Carrie Braun, officers arrived at the scene and warned the protesters to disperse because they were engaged in an unlawful assembly. Most of them did, however, the group arrested refused, according to Braun.
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Ferguson said the protest and arrests could have been avoided, and that barricades and signs would have been enough to keep the parking lots closed. Dunek, on his authority during the emergency, erected the fencing, according to the pro tem Mayor.
"(Dunek) has the power, but I reminded him this morning that residents are asking to remove the fencing and to avoid any potential for arrests or harm to anyone be proactive" and remove the fences, Ferguson said. "He has chosen not to, and he has doubled down... he has turned against freedom and liberty."
What do you think? Should the fences remain? Or be taken down? Let us know in comments or by emailing your Patch editor: Ashley.Ludwig@Patch.com
City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig, contributed to this report.
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