About Us » Organization » Office of the Chief of Police

1st Amendment Activity

Font Size: + -
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Print

First Amendment Activity

The San José Police Department uniquely supports first amendment activities, including protests and gatherings, and has policies regulating enforcement action at such incidents. As a Department, we support and encourage communication and planning efforts with local organizations and groups to help facilitate First Amendment activities in San José. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that those participating in First Amendment activities can exercise their constitutionally protected rights in an environment and manner that is safe for all.

It is neither the intention nor the desire of the Department to suppress or restrain lawful activity. The Department is committed to ensuring that any person or group has the right to conduct peaceful and lawful First Amendment activity at any legal location within the City. However, unlawful civil disturbances require prompt and effective action by the Department. The Department will take appropriate legal steps to discourage unlawful conduct whenever it occurs. First Amendment activity includes speech, assembly, and petition activity that is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I of the California Constitution.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of religion, speech and the press and protects the rights of the people to peacefully assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances. Article I of the California Constitution has similar protections. Activity protected by the U.S. and California Constitutions includes, but is not limited to protests, demonstrations, rallies, assemblies, and marches on City streets, sidewalks, plazas, parks and other similar areas open to the general public that are owned and/or controlled by the City.

 

What is an unlawful assembly?

California Penal Code 407 states: Whenever two or more persons assemble together to do an unlawful act, or do a lawful act in a violent, boisterous, or tumultuous manner, such assembly is an unlawful assembly.

When circumstances or acts occurring at the scene of a civil disturbance rise to the levels defined above, SJPD may declare an unlawful assembly.

What happens if I am present at the scene of an unlawful assembly?

If SJPD declares an unlawful assembly, dispersal orders will be given in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese utilizing a long-range acoustic device (LRAD) with instructions to leave the area. Dispersal orders and pertinent information may also be disseminated on SJPD managed social media platforms. After a reasonable amount of time has elapsed, all parties remaining at the scene of an unlawful assembly may be subject to arrest/citation for violating California Penal Code 409.

California Penal Code 409 states: Every person remaining present at the place of any riot, rout, or unlawful assembly, after the same has been lawfully warned to disperse, except public officers and persons assisting them in attempting to disperse the same, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

SJPD’s Declaration of Unlawful Assembly

"I am a peace officer for the San José Police Department. I hereby declare this to be an unlawful assembly and in the name of the People of the State of California, order all those assembled at this location to immediately disperse, which means to break up this assembly. If you do not do so, you may be arrested. You may also be subject to other police action including the use of an acoustic hailing device, projectile impact weapons, and chemical agents, which include foam baton rounds, beanbag rounds, tear gas, CN, CS, OC, or pepper spray. Use of these devices or other police action could result in serious injury. Penal Code section 409 prohibits remaining present at an unlawful assembly, which means that you must leave the area. If you remain in the area, you will be in violation of Penal Code section 409."
Listen to the Declaration (English)   TranscriptBullhorn megaphone
"Soy oficial del orden público del Departamento de Policía de San José. Por la presente declaro que esta es una asamblea ilegal y, en nombre del Pueblo del Estado de California, ordeno a todos los reunidos en este lugar que se dispersen inmediatamente, lo que significa disolver esta asamblea. Si no lo hace, puede ser arrestado. También puede estar sujeto a otras acciones policiales, incluido el uso de un dispositivo acústico de llamada, armas de impacto de proyectiles y agentes químicos, que incluyen balas de espuma, balas tipo puf, gases lacrimógenos, CN, CS, OC o spray de pimienta. El uso de estos dispositivos u otra acción policial podría provocar lesiones graves. El artículo 409 del Código Penal prohíbe permanecer presente en una reunión ilegal, lo que significa que debe abandonar el área. Si permanece en el área, estará violando la sección 409 del Código Penal."
(Tiếng Việt)   Bấm vào để đọc bản ghi:
"Tôi là nhân viên hòa bình của Sở Cảnh sát San José. Tôi xin tuyên bố đây là một cuộc tụ tập bất hợp pháp và nhân danh Người dân Tiểu bang California, ra lệnh cho tất cả những người tập hợp tại địa điểm này giải tán ngay lập tức, nghĩa là giải tán cuộc họp này. Nếu bạn không làm như vậy, bạn có thể bị bắt. Bạn cũng có thể phải chịu các biện pháp khác của cảnh sát, bao gồm sử dụng thiết bị kêu gọi âm thanh, vũ khí phóng đạn và tác nhân hóa học, bao gồm đạn dùi cui xốp, đạn túi đậu, hơi cay, CN, CS, OC hoặc bình xịt hơi cay. Việc sử dụng các thiết bị này hoặc hành động khác của cảnh sát có thể dẫn đến thương tích nghiêm trọng. Bộ luật Hình sự mục 409 cấm tiếp tục có mặt tại một cuộc tụ tập bất hợp pháp, có nghĩa là bạn phải rời khỏi khu vực đó. Nếu bạn vẫn ở trong khu vực, bạn sẽ vi phạm Bộ luật Hình sự mục 409."