#WalkAway Campaign, a conservative group, is set to hold a march and rally in West Hollywood on Sunday afternoon.
The march will start at 1 p.m. at the corner of N. Robertson Blvd. and Santa Monica Blvd. and then end at Beverly Gardens Park, where a rally will take place.
The campaign, according to its Facebook page, was founded by Brandon Straka in 2018 and “encourages and supports those on the left to walk away from the divisive tenets endorsed and mandated by the modern Democratic Party.”
Sunday’s rally is part of the group’s American Restoration Tour. Those expected to attend include Straka, former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, and rock singer Cherie Currie.
KNX News’ Jon Baird spoke with WeHo residents about their thoughts on the rally.
“We don’t want them here,” one man said. “A conservative rally in West Hollywood? Really? After everything they’re doing? Yeah, I don’t think so.”
One another, however, said it’s fine for the protestors to speak their mind, but they should also keep the peace.
“If you have the right to protest in the place and you can do it legally, you can do it, but keep the rules and be respectful for [sic] others, because you know, that's how, that's how we do it as humans,” he said.
In a statement, city officials said that while the event is not “a City-permitted event,” they “respect the Constitution and honor the First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly.”
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“ While the City values the rights of free expression, it also recognizes that language and actions matter,” the statement continued. “The City remains steadfast in uplifting the dignity and rights of our community members and remains vigilant in denouncing words and actions that may seek to devalue, divide, or diminish us.”
City officials added that the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department is aware of the event and that if there are “substantial threats to public safety,” law enforcement officers could declare an unlawful assembly and order everyone to disperse.
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