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Alcala, Abigail <br />From: Gwynn Van Houten < <br />Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 2:45 PM <br />To: eComment <br />Subject: E-Comment on Agenda Item #24 <br />Am: eiifl.Wiu ll in eu uffl of iOna1n°n9 fug-mnz onut;n de o, 'Cu y oro ' Sanm Anna. Use canorm when n:pel inn aflac4gun enu s or finks. <br />Dear Mayor and Councilmembers, <br />I am writing to you as a community member to urge a rejection of Item 424 which restricts the right to protest in <br />residential areas. As long of protesters are peacefully organized and outside the private property, as well as <br />following other local ordinances, there is no justification for restricting the right to organize other than to <br />silence opinions you do not like. It impedes on the constitutional rights to assemble and exercise free speech. It <br />is a slippery slope that will make these rights conditional in the city of Santa Ana. Additionally, it is clearly <br />targeted at protests taking place outside the property of a Congressmember. These protests have been peaceful <br />and followed existing ordinances. It is people's right to demonstrate against an elected civil servant who is not <br />following the will of their constituents —in this case, refusing to acknowledge a ongoing genocide, an <br />international crime of the highest order. Some of the protesters being targeted are community members who are <br />directly affected by this genocide, both in relations overseas and by bigotry arising here at home. This <br />community is doing what is in its power to reach the ears of Washington, something some of you have urged <br />them to be doing rather than coming to the local council. Yet, it is this very act that you are trying to limit. <br />All in all, this is a motion clearly targeted at a group who have been following laws and exercising their rights. <br />By making this limited to certain areas, you are sending the message that free speech is conditional in Santa <br />Ana. Do not be the council that restricted these rights at an important moment in history. <br />Thank you, <br />Gavin V. <br />Concerned Community Member <br />