The Los Angeles City Council finalized an ordinance Tuesday that prohibits protests within 300 feet of the target's residence.
The new law, which will take effect immediately, was passed 13 to 2 -- with Nithya Raman and Mike Bonin dissenting. A coalition of civil liberties groups also objected to the new law.
“My home is not a public place for you to come and protest my actions on this council," said Councilmember Nury Martinez. She and Mitch O'Farrell introduced an emergency motion in August calling for the creation of a law that would bar demonstrators from getting within 300 feet of a target's home.
The two council memebrs said anti-vaccination protesters showed up at their homes on Sunday night after council members' home addresses were announced at a rally earlier that day.
Martinez and O'Farrell have proposed requiring proof of vaccination for many indoor activities.
The council voted 13 to 1 for the drafting of an ordinance that would expand the prohibition of targeted protests from 100 to 300 feet of a private residence. Councilmember Nithya Raman was the lone no vote. She said that while she shares her colleagues' concerns, the city should focus on enforcing the existing ban.
A few people called into the council meeting to oppose both the proposed protest restriction and indoor vaccination requirement.
“You use references like anti-vaxxers and stuff like that. We’re anti-mandate. We’re anti-fascists," said one caller.
Martinez said video of Sunday's rally showed a man saying protesters would show up at the homes of any council members who vote in favor of the vaccine mandate.
“‘If you want to feel intimidated, we are going to intimidate you and we’re coming for you’ it continued to scream this into the crowd," she said, describing the video.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian said a possible ordinance is not about limiting protests. Instead, it is trying to stop the bullying of councilmembers.
"Save the strain on your thumbs and don't even bother with that stupid storyline," Krekorian said to those that would take to social media to complain.
