The line between free speech and criminal speech or lawful assembly and unlawful assembly is frequently blurred.  But seldom are the distinctions enhanced once police agencies are involved often because it does not fall within the priorities with which they are dealing at the time. 

Case in point – the Chico Disorderly Events Ordinance.  This ordinance was passed by the Chico City Council earlier this year at the behest of the Chico Police Department because they felt they needed a tool with which to prevent some parties and celebrations from escalating into the very “ruckus” (as one local news organization called it) that happened early Sunday morning.  Take a look here and see if this looks like a “ruckus”:

The ACLU is concerned because the Disorderly Events ordinance may have been invoked to close down an assembly that may have been a lawful one until then  – depending entirely upon the judgement of the police officers.  Apparently in two different locations around town revelers spilled out into the streets at least partly in reaction to the action of the officers. 

This is of concern on many levels – but of greatest concern to the ACLU is the possible violation of Constitutional rights to free assembly — not to mention the escalation that occurred as the result. 

Read the Chico Enterprise-Record article of the event here.  Notice the insistence that the “ruckus” following the party happened because outsiders incited it as evidenced by the use of accelerants to create the fire.  (The question is asked, “Who brings accelerants to a party?”  Is it not probably a can of bbq lighter sitting next to one of the many bbq’s outside almost every house along one of the streets in that area?  Duh!)

With Halloween coming up, note this statement by Chief Hagerty as well:

“The chief said there will be more law enforcement every weekend from now through Halloween, meaning officers will be working overtime.”

 Hopefully people in authority will realize that the violation of rights that can happen so easily when the Disorderly Events Ordinance is invoked frequently results in pushback of the kind seen this past weekend.�