Dear Santa Monica Residents,
As your mayor, I want to address our community as we approach this weekend. Santa Monica has always been a place where voices matter, and as we face challenging moments, we remain committed to protecting the well-being and rights of everyone in our city, especially when it comes to peaceful protests and civic expression.
I understand the anxiety many of you are feeling—having personally experienced the loss caused by looting of our family business. This situation reminds us of how important it is to protect both our safety and our right to express our views freely, without fear of violence or disruption. It is essential that every voice be heard in a space of respect and peace.
This weekend, we are prepared to support those who wish to exercise their First Amendment rights. Our law enforcement will be fully staffed, and we are deploying enhanced resources, including technology such as cameras and drones, which we have invested in since 2020 to ensure safety while respecting the right to protest.
To further ensure a safe environment, our officers will be positioned at key locations, including freeway exit points. Our police department is actively engaging with protest organizers, and we are in close collaboration with local advocates and organizations working to address the distress caused by recent immigration enforcement actions. We are deeply aware of the challenges many families are facing, and we remain committed to supporting them with the resources and assistance they need.
While some of our preparations cannot be disclosed for security reasons, please rest assured that we are taking all necessary steps to protect our community. It is critical to us that protests remain peaceful, and any effort to incite violence or disrupt these vital expressions of civic duty will not be tolerated. Those who seek to exploit peaceful gatherings for criminal purposes will face the full extent of the law.
Santa Monica is a community grounded in justice, respect and dialogue. Together, we must uphold the values of peaceful protest and social responsibility that make our city strong.
Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to these ideals.
Mayor Lana Negrete