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Modesto residents press council to repeal anti‑masking provision after June protest arrests
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the Modesto City Council during public comment to repeal municipal code 4‑23.02(13), the city—s anti‑masking provision for public assemblies, citing arrests at a June 14 protest and letters from the ACLU and First Amendment Coalition; council took no formal action during the Sept. 9 meeting.
Dozens of residents used the public‑comment period at the Modesto City Council—s Sept. 9 meeting to demand that the council place municipal code 4‑23.02 subsection 13—s anti‑masking provision on a future agenda for repeal or substantial amendment. Speakers said the provision has chilled free speech and enabled selective enforcement by police at protests.
The broad appeal included community groups, journalists and people who described themselves as unhoused or youth; many cited the arrests at a June 14 "ICE Out" protest and referenced recent public letters from the ACLU and the First Amendment Coalition asking the city to change the ordinance. "No one should have to risk their identity, health, and physical safety in order to attend or report on a…
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