Modesto Council adopts emergency ordinance tightening face‑covering and tactical‑gear rules at protests

Modesto, Calif. — The Modesto City Council on Dec. 2 adopted an urgency ordinance that revises the city's rules for public assemblies to prohibit certain face coverings and "tactical" gear and to clarify medical, religious and costume exemptions. The vote was unanimous.

The ordinance, as presented by constitutional attorney Deborah Fox and supported by Modesto Police Chief Brandon Gillespie's presentation, narrows exemptions for face coverings, explicitly excludes balaclavas and ski masks from the medical exemption, and adds detailed findings and definitions for hard‑shell helmets, tactical vests and umbrella use. City Attorney Jose Sanchez said the city retained Myers Nave attorney Deborah Fox for First Amendment review. Fox told the council the changes are intended to "provide clear guidelines" for both the public and law enforcement and that costume and medical exemptions would remain.

Supporters said the changes protect public safety. Teresa Gamboa, who said she witnessed bottles thrown in a 2022 downtown incident, told the council:…