Long Beach Area v. City of Long Beach

I. Background

As described by the district court, the Long Beach Area Peace Network is “an unincorporated, loosely organized group of peace activists without an office, organizational phone, organizational email or insurance.” On February 15, 2003, before the beginning of the Iraq War, the Peace Net- work sponsored a protest march and rally in the City of Long Beach, California. In preparation for the event, Dr. Eugene Ruyle (“Ruyle”), a retired professor and Peace Network mem- ber, submitted an application for a “special event” permit, as required by § 5.60.020(A). Long Beach Municipal Code LONG BEACH AREA PEACE NETWORK v. LONG BEACH 9529 (“LBMC”) § 5.60.020(A) (1999). After negotiating the march route with Ruyle, the City approved the permit.

The march was conducted on public streets along the route suggested by the City. The event concluded with a rally in Bixby Park, a public park in the City. Several elected offi- cials, including a City Council member and a State Assembly member, participated in the rally. According to some esti- mates, between 1,000 and 1,500 people attended the event.

The permit application, signed by Ruyle in February 2003, provided that the…