Curfew in place in Santa Ana on Monday night; group protests shooting by deputy in L.A. County
Santa Ana officials implemented a curfew effective from 10 p.m. Monday, June 22, until 5 a.m. Tuesday, as a precaution against potential civil unrest. After the curfew announcement, a group protested a law enforcement-involved shooting death in Los Angeles County.
Expand
Residents will not be allowed to go into public while the measure is in place, city officials said in a news release. Exceptions will be made for those seeking emergency care, fleeing danger, going to and from work or religious services, and emergency responders.
The curfew was ordered by City Manager Kristine Ridge “in response to possible civil unrest resulting from protests tonight,” city officials said.
“The City of Santa Ana supports the public’s right to peaceably assemble and protest outside of the curfew hours,” Santa Ana officials said. “The Santa Ana Police Department will be actively monitoring the situation to maintain public safety.”
A flyer circulated online for a protest scheduled at 8 p.m. featured the hashtag #JusticeForAndres, in reference to the fatal shooting by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy of 18-year-old Andres Guardado near Gardena.
“We are prepared for any issues, but are hoping things don’t come to that,” Santa Ana Police Department Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
A group of some 50 protesters gathered on the corner of Bristol Street and McFadden Avenue at around 8 p.m. to protest police violence amid Guardado’s death.
Some protesters held signs such as “right now, the justice system has a 0 star rating,” “hands up, don’t shoot” and “criminal justice reform now.”
Alize Ruiz, 19, of Santa Ana, had a sign that read “open the cages; even rapists wear badges.” She said she came out to protest because she was very concerned about the effect of police brutality and immigration crackdowns on people of color, including her Latino/a community.
A small group of about 15 people have gathered in Santa Ana in the corner of Bristol and McFadden to protest LA County Sheriff’s deputies fatally shooting Andres Guardado pic.twitter.com/v8achExrUo
— Jeong Park (@JeongPark52) June 23, 2020
Police in the area blocked traffic on Bristol Street, heading south of 1st Street, and north of Edinger Avenue.
Some people briefly blocked the intersection of Bristol and McFadden and laid down on the street while chanting George Floyd’s name. Floyd died last month in Minneapolis police custody and a wave of protests and calls for justice reforms followed.
Demonstrators at the intersection of Bristol and McFadden in Santa Ana and laid on the ground for 1 minute in protest of police brutality. This gathering was held in response to the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Andres Guardadoby LA Sheriff’s Deputies near Gardena. @ocregister pic.twitter.com/9H0TVc4f2l
— Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) June 23, 2020
The protest swelled to around 100 people later in the night and protesters marched along Bristol. The marching caused some congested traffic behind the marching protesters.
Those protesting chanted “hands up, don’t shoot” as they continued to march, up Bristol toward 1st Street. Some motorists stopped as they passed to honk, apparently in solidarity.
A police helicopter followed the protesters, circling overhead as they marched along the street, approaching 6th Street.
The march has just reached First street and Bristol. Protestors shout:
“hands up”
“Don’t Shoot”
As they ignore a red light. Some stopped as they pass honk, apparently in solidarity @ocregister #SantaAna #JusticeForAndres pic.twitter.com/XY2bJeahXr— Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) June 23, 2020
A group of people with large empty bags and some full face masks talked about looting stores. They were confronted by protesters who want them to leave, and got into a shouting match. Someone apparently broke out a bb gun and shot one of the protesters in the hip. @ocregister pic.twitter.com/NsLwatZM8C
— Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) June 23, 2020
The march continued east on Civic Center Drive, as protesters marched closer to the Santa Ana Police Station.
The protest shrunk to about 50 people as they approached Civic Center Drive and Shelton Street, next to the police station and police standing in the street.
Protesters kneeled about 40 feet away from 30-50 police officers and chanted, “There is no riot here. Why are you in riot gear?” and “Don’t shoot.”
Even more people cleared out just before the 10 p.m. curfew after a large bang happened close to police officers. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the bang.
People wheeled out a pair of dumpsters and positioned them in the street, near protesters. I don’t know if these are supposed to be for taking cover, but that’s my plan. Protestor instructing people to get any children or vulnerable out @ocregister #SantaAna #JusticeForAndres pic.twitter.com/HRfKyYlyGC
— Eric Anthony Licas (@EricLicas) June 23, 2020
Some people brought a pair of dumpsters out into the street, presumably for cover against anything officers might send toward protesters. Some in the area instructed any vulnerable people or children to leave.
Giovanni Guzman, 18, of Costa Mesa, said things seemed to have cooled off since the incident with the loud bang. But he and his friends stood by his car with the doors open, just in case.
The protest came to an abrupt end at around 10:15 p.m. No arrests were immediately announced.
Staff writer Robert Gundran contributed to this story.