The victims in San Diego are being targeted in a War of Intolerance led by politicians.
They have enacted laws criminalizing activities such as skateboarding, dancing, and cruising, with no apparent limit to their efforts. The most recent manifestation of this narrow-mindedness is the San Diego Juvenile curfew, which prohibits individuals under the age of 18 from being outside after 10 pm.
In June of 1997, a Federal Court ruled the curfew unconstitutional, prompting the City Council to revise the curfew by adding specific exceptions. Just 20 days later, we initiated our campaign on July 11th, 1997 to repeal the curfew in Mission Bay Park.
Our anti-curfew movement, which began with 50 individuals, has rapidly expanded to include 150 protesters in just two weeks. As a result, we have successfully coordinated protest marches throughout San Diego, including one that was featured on M-TV. Although there are those who claim that teenagers do not have the same rights as adults, it is crucial to recognize that our campaign is driven by a distinct objective unrelated to teenage rights.
Our protest opposes the unjust punishment of law-abiding Americans impacted by the curfew. We strongly advocate for the freedom of every honest citizen to socialize at any time. When a teenager adheres to the law while spending their evening in a park, it does not cause harm. Hence, criminalizing such behavior is unfair.
The reason it is considered a crime is because the Mayor prohibits individuals from choosing their own lifestyles. Even though politicians view hanging out as damaging, it shouldn’t be against the law. They label it as loitering, but I propose a different perspective: I see it as socializing. Whenever you come across a sign that says no loitering, it essentially means no socializing. If socializing is prohibited, can America truly be called the land of the free? Some individuals prefer going to movies while others enjoy spending time in a park.
Both activities should remain legal. Granting the government the authority to control a teenager’s way of life means granting the government the authority to control everyone’s way of life. A high school in the South marked the racial integration with a celebration on Thursday. However, freedom for a minority in San Diego is still restricted today. Similar to how Blacks were treated in the Old South, teenagers are treated as if they were criminals. They experience segregation every night.
Every night, individuals under 18 are required to go home while everyone else is allowed to travel without restrictions. Politicians are extremely adamant about keeping teenagers off the streets on a continuous basis. The implementation of a daytime curfew, which lasts from 7 am to 2 pm, ensures that teenagers are unable to be outside during those hours. Additionally, a nighttime curfew has been introduced, compelling teenagers to return home by 10 pm. Consequently, for a significant portion of every weekday, lasting 15 hours, teenagers are unable to travel freely or socialize with their peers.
They are unable to engage in social activities. The curfew law was enacted by politicians due to the acceptance of other laws that punish the general population for the actions of a small group. The prohibition on driving at 90 mph is a result of a few reckless drivers, and the restriction on drinking on the beach after 8 pm is a response to a few disorderly individuals. If only we had protested against these laws, perhaps we would not be subjected to the curfew. Maybe then, law-abiding citizens could enjoy peaceful lives in our society.
The politicians argue against excessive freedom, claiming that it would lead to societal chaos. However, this street fair serves as evidence that thousands of individuals can gather peacefully. While a few troublemakers may be present, the majority of fair-goers are law-abiding citizens. Unfortunately, politicians perceive and treat the public as criminals.
Despite not being criminals, you should have the freedom to socialize at night, drink on the beach past 8 pm, and live your lives as you choose. Regrettably, authorities may eventually prohibit these activities due to concerns over someone vomiting on another person’s property or urinating in a public alley.
I believe this because the Pacific Beach Block Party was canceled by intolerant politicians who also prohibit nighttime socialization for teenagers. Despite claiming their motive is fighting crime, San Diego politicians are essentially outlawing a specific way of life. It is important not to trust their justifications.
The curfew only serves as another weapon in their campaign of intolerance. They regularly create new legislation that criminalizes various ways of life. In their arsenal of oppressive measures, they have laws specifically targeting skateboarding, drinking, gambling, and even perpetual driving in Mission Beach. These regulations are not intended to decrease crime; rather, they are aimed at prohibiting certain lifestyles.
Essentially, Mayor Golding is making things illegal if she doesn’t approve of them. Her behavior is reminiscent of a high school bully, as she insists on dictating everyone’s actions and schedules. Even I am subject to a curfew as her victim.
The local government imposes a 2 am closing time for all bars, with politicians arguing that this measure will decrease instances of drinking and driving. However, the underlying motive is to compel individuals like myself to leave and get home, and to also keep teenagers off the streets. The primary objective is not about addressing crime, which is seen as an admirable aspiration. Unfortunately, implementing a curfew is not an effective means to achieve this goal.
Comparing the application of curfew to decrease crime with a mother disciplining her child using her fist, both instances result in solutions that are more detrimental than the initial issue. The primary drawback of curfews is that they impose restrictions on law-abiding teenagers’ freedom as a means to combat crime. Politicians believe the presence of a few delinquents taints the entire group.
That statement applies to fruit not humans. It is possible to pick out and punish criminals without taking away our freedom. For example, if you were a school teacher, would you cancel class because of a few trouble makers? Or would you expel the trouble makers? The curfew expels teenagers from the classroom of life. We should never unjustly punish a law-abiding American. If people are recklessly skateboarding, stop them, don’t outlaw skateboarding.
It is advocated that instead of imposing a curfew on all teenagers, only those who are causing disturbances should be arrested. The actions of a few should not negatively impact the majority. Furthermore, politicians suggest that curfews safeguard teenagers from gangs, yet the true concern should lie with the corrupt politicians in City Hall. By studying history, it becomes clear that intolerant politicians have inflicted more harm than local gangs.
Politicians always seek to restrict freedom whenever there is a problem. In order to combat nighttime crime, they enforced a ban on teenagers being out on the streets. Furthermore, to address the issue of noisy intoxicated individuals on the beach at night, they revoked everyone’s right to savor a beer. Moreover, due to a few troublemakers in Pacific Beach, our politicians with little tolerance decided to cancel the entire PB Block Party. This course of action is chosen as it is simpler to target law-abiding citizens rather than going after the actual criminals.
Stopping criminals requires effort, but police and politicians have infringed upon our freedom in the name of making their jobs easier. Consider this scenario: if your responsibility was to prevent any fights from happening, it might seem simpler to just cancel the fair altogether. This way, instead of 100,000 people attending, only 1,000 would be present.
There is a way to avoid the curfew, unlike drinking and skateboarding laws. According to the law, teenagers exercising their First Amendment rights protected by the Constitution will not be subject to the curfew. To repeal the curfew, a “Stick Up for your Rights” Protest has been initiated. By wearing a Repeal the Curfew sticker and participating in this protest, you become exempt from the law. The objective of the Stick up for rights! protest is to prevent teenage arrests due to curfew violations. If approached by police attempting an arrest, simply inform them that you are exercising your first amendment right to protest against the curfew.
If you are arrested by the police, do not admit guilt but plead innocence and take legal action against the police for violating your rights under the First Amendment. Your sticker, speech, and campaign serve as evidence that you are actively participating in an organized political protest. Neglecting to oppose these laws will result in their further worsening. The lack of protest against the 18-year-old drinking age led to its sudden increase to 21. Similarly, failure to protest the skateboarding law on Mission Beach resulted in its recent expansion by politicians.
It is crucial that we voice our opposition to the curfew. If we do not take a stand, there is a possibility that a future Mayor, who lacks tolerance, will either extend the curfew period from dusk until dawn or increase the age restriction. This is our moment to resist. This is our moment to refuse to be controlled by unfair regulations. This is our moment to safeguard our freedom.
Therefore, to ensure your freedom, it is crucial to participate in active protests against the curfew, display a sticker as a sign of resistance, and legally remain outside for as long as you desire. Additionally, it is of utmost importance to vote for politicians who prioritize safeguarding your freedom instead of seizing it. Presently, our existing politicians claim to prioritize your safety, yet in doing so, they confiscate your freedom. However, never forget that true safety can only be achieved through freedom.
