A citywide curfew in Beverly Hills went into effect at 1 p.m. Monday, three hours earlier than planned, “out of an abundance of caution due to continued demonstrations planned in the area,” Keith Sterling, Beverly Hills’ public information manager, told City News Service.
The curfew prohibits anyone from being on public streets, alleys, in parks or any public place. It will continue until 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, Mayor Les Friedman announced Sunday.
This is the third consecutive day a citywide curfew is in effect in Beverly Hills. The first ran from 8 p.m. Saturday to 5:30 a.m. Sunday and the second from 4 p.m. Sunday until 5:30 a.m. Monday.
A curfew for Beverly Hills’ business district was in effect from 1 p.m. Sunday to 5:30 a.m. Monday.
The Business District curfew encompassed the Business Triangle (including Rodeo Drive), South Beverly Drive, Robertson Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard.
“This has been a difficult weekend in our city,” Friedman said in a robocall sent to residents Sunday night. “Thousands of protesters marched through our streets to call attention to the devastating circumstances surrounding the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd.
“Sadly, there were multiple incidents of vandalism. Several stores, buildings and public art pieces were damaged. This will not be tolerated in our city. It’s unfortunate that the message of the peaceful protesters has been diminished by criminal behavior.”
More than 2,000 people came to Beverly Hills Saturday as part of a nationwide series of demonstrations in response to Floyd’s in-custody death last Monday in Minneapolis, Sterling said. Many of them ignored social-distancing recommendations.
Sterling described the vandalism as “mostly spray painting and several broken windows.” The vandalism included spray painting the phrases, “We Comin 4 Your $$” and “Kill the Rich” on the Beverly Hills Lily Pond on Santa Monica Boulevard between Beverly and Canon drives.
The Alexander McQueen clothing store on Rodeo Drive was looted by masked individuals as what dozens of people entered the store and escaped with stolen items. There was also an attempt to loot the Gucci store.
Two Santa Monica Police Department vehicles were attacked at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Rodeo Drive. Santa Monica police were assisting the Beverly Hills Police Department on a mutual aid request.