City Of West Hollywood: OFFICIAL CITY STATEMENT: Recent Protests In The City Of West Hollywood

Press release from the City of West Hollywood:

August 09, 2021 4:21 PM

OFFICIAL CITY STATEMENT: Recent Protests in the City of West Hollywood

Monday, August 9, 2021

For more than two weeks, there have been regular gatherings of protestors in the City of West Hollywood who seek to draw attention to their disapproval of health protocols related to COVID-19. These protests have targeted specific businesses in our City, such as medical offices and restaurants.

At this time, there is a County-level Public Health order, which establishes a mask requirement for indoor public settings. Organizations and businesses in West Hollywood must adhere to enforcement of such orders for the use of masks in indoor public settings, except while patrons are eating or drinking.

Additionally, a growing number of bars, restaurants, and clubs in our City have taken an added step to require evidence of full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test as a condition of entry and service. This is within their rights and the City of West Hollywood applauds these efforts.

The City of West Hollywood stands by our businesses as they work to do everything in their power to protect the health of staff, customers, and community members as rates of transmission of the COVID-19 Delta variant rise in the nation and in our region.

The City of West Hollywood embraces the exercise of first amendment rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of speech and it welcomes those who choose to voice their dissent and gather here. The City of West Hollywood is working, each day, with the West Hollywood Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to ensure assemblies are peaceful. When there may be substantial threats to public safety, a gathering may be declared unlawful in order to protect people and property.

We are aware that enforcing COVID-19 safeguards has been a challenge in our local businesses and that, at times, there have been concerns about personal safety for staff and patrons of our local businesses. Any such concerns should immediately be communicated to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.

This press release was produced by the City of West Hollywood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.