#GeorgiaUSA - the same state that brought us #CopCity!
#SandySprings passes restrictions on #protests, #canvassing and engaging with others without permission
Hayden Sumlin, April 4th, 2025
Excerpt:
"Police Chief DeSimone said the personal encroachment ordinance would assist public safety in Sandy Springs. He cited a case recently where two individuals silently walked across the City Green during the Oct. 10, 2023 'Stand in Solidarity with #Israel' vigil wearing 'Arab headdresses with two #Palestinian flags that walked into the crowd.'
" 'My guys had to grab them pretty quick and get them out of there; this ordinance will help us do that because they walked through there for only one reason, to intimidate,' DeSimone said.
"Councilwoman Reichel asked DeSimone if that meant his department, 'would arrest someone just for walking through a group of people?'
" 'Yes,' the police chief answered. 'If they were walking with a Nazi flag, under this ordinance we would arrest them. Palestinian flag, we would arrest them. Because they are doing it for only one reason and that is to intimidate the Jewish community.' [But it's okay for #ElonMusk and others in #Trump's circle to use Nazi salute? HYPOCRITES!]
"Councilwomen Reichel and Kelley pushed back on his comments about the ordinance and Palestinian people.
"At one point DeSimone asked Reichel, who is #Jewish, if she would consider it harassment for someone to walk by her with a Palestinian flag at a pro-Jewish event.
" 'I don’t think that would be harassing me. I mean, if they came up to me and started getting in my face or started pushing me, or started to physically touch me, that is harassing, yes,' she said. 'But I do believe in the #FirstAmendment and I believe in freedom of speech.' "
#GeorgiaProtestLaws #USProtestLaws #USPol #AntiProtestLaws #FreePalestine #ACAB #StopCopCity