Want to hold a protest in California? Here are strict new rules from Gov. Gavin Newsom

As California’s counties slowly reopen their physical economies, protesters in the state have continued pushing to speed up that process.

Images of some protesters breaking shelter-at-home orders and health guidelines by congregating too closely or screaming in the faces of police officers have prompted the state’s Department of Public Health to unveil new safety rules for demonstrations.

Public protests against the shelter-at-home orders have largely been directed toward government restrictions and the financial effects on private business and workers. An undercurrent of misinformation has fed some demonstrations, claiming COVID-19 is a human conspiracy or far less deadly than reported.

As with new rules for religious services, protests must not exceed 25% of any location’s maximum capacity, with a cap of 100 attendees.

Guidelines from the Department of Public Health urged dissenters to voice their protests online or by other non-physical means whenever possible, noting that even with physical distancing, bringing multiple households together increa... (Read more)

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