Following an April 23rd protest by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty activists at the home of a manager at Sumitomo Corp. of America, Monrovia, California, this month an ordinance to restrict pickets and protests that target residences.
The Monrovia City Council unanimously approved the ordinance which would require protesters to be at least 300 feet from any residence that is the target of their protest. According to the Pasadena Star News, 12 residents spoke in favor of the ordinance at a special meeting of the city council, while no one spoke against the measure.
About 30 activists protested outside the home, some of them wearing masks, yelling things like “[The executive] is a sick pervert who enjoys animal abuse” through a bullhorn and chanting “We know where you sleep.”
The tactics against the executive and his family escalated after the protests. According to the Pasadena Star,
Early in the morning of May 29, someone threw a chunk of cinder block from a passing car that hit a security guard hired by Sumitomo in the face, breaking his jaw, police said.
Sources:
Council may move to rein in protests. Marshall Allen, Pasadena Star-News, June 7, 2004.
Council OKs limits on protesters. Marshall Allen, Pasadena Star-News, June 8, 2004.