FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 1997
San Diego, CA -- On Friday, July 11, 1997, at
10 p.m., citizens will rally against the San Diego
juvenile curfew. Rallies will be held every night,
from 10 p.m. to Midnight, at Mission Bay Park,
across from the roller coaster, until the City
Council of San Diego repeals the curfew law. The
rallies will allow all citizens under the age of 18
to legally avoid the curfew by exercising their
First Amendment rights.
ìThe law unfairly discriminates against
people because of their age,î said Dave
Doctor, organizer of the rally. ìIn every
age group, there are certain criminals that commit
crimes, but we already have laws to punish these
criminals. The curfew law was not written to reduce
crime, it was written to persecute
teenagers.î
ìIn the history of America, many persecuted
groups have demanded equal treatment under the
law,î said Doctor. ìBlacks demanded
the end of segregation, women fought for the right
to vote, and now, in San Diego, citizens under the
age of 18 will rally to repeal the
curfew.î
The original curfew law from 1947 was ruled
unconstitutional by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals in early June. The court wrote that the
curfew was vague and that the exceptions did not
make allowances for a number of constitutionally
protected activities.
On June 18, 1997, the City Council unanimously
adopted a new juvenile curfew law. To prevent
another court case, the new law includes numerous
exceptions which allow a minor to be outside after
10 p.m. These exceptions include, but are not
limited to, a minor accompanied by a parent or
other responsible adult and a minor exercising
First Amendment rights protected by the United
States Constitution.
On Friday night, citizens of San Diego will
exercise their First Amendment Rights by rallying
against the curfew. There will be a press
conference at 10:30 p.m., at Mission Bay Park,
across from the roller coaster, on Friday, July 11,
1997.
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