City officials in Long Beach are addressing allegations that they inappropriately shut down an anti-ICE, pro-Palestinian music festival that was scheduled for this past weekend.
A media release from the city states that two separate cease-and-desist notices were issued for the event that was to be held on Saturday. The event, a “F— ICE, Free Palestine” rally, was advertised as a music festival at Toxic Toast Records, a record shop located at 8th and Pine streets, with several performers.
That location was selected after the city sent a cease-and-desist letter to organizers, who originally wanted to stage the event at the beach, officials say.
“A cease-and-desist letter was initially issued because the organization failed to obtain the required event and charitable solicitation permits for a planned music event and fundraiser at the beach,” city officials explained. “When the organizers moved the event to a retail business location that also lacked the necessary entertainment permit, a second cease-and-desist letter was sent.”
The city further emphasized that it is required to ensure that all public events and entertainment activities are properly permitted, and that the permit process is necessary for the “safety and well-being” of everyone involved, including neighbors.
“The permitting process can take several days to finalize and issue depending on the scope and complexity of the event. The city does not ‘target’ unpermitted events,” the media release says. “Notices and other communications are issued when the city becomes aware of illegal event or entertainment activity through public complaints, word-of-mouth or advertising.”
The city said the festival needed advance planning, given its location on public property with heavy use and nearby homes, local parking, and power-related equipment. Officials said they are working with the event organizers, offering options to hold the event at the beach with a Special Event Permit or indoors with an Occasional Event Permit.
Despite this, organizers have taken to social media and accused the city of “clearly work[ing] overtime…with the goal of shutting [the event] down” even after they followed a recommendation to move it to what they called a permitted venue.
“We moved the event indoors by securing a nearby permitted venue at Toxic Toast Theater, just a mile away. The city of Long Beach then contacted the venue threatening another cease-and-desist notice naming Stopice.net [and its founder, Long Beach native] Sherman Austin directly, threatening enforcement remedies if the event moved forward,” an Instagram post by the organizers read. “Keep in mind, this venue regularly holds live music shows without incident from the city… up until our event [Saturday].”
“This type of selective enforcement is a violation of our First Amendment and we will be following up shortly,” the post claims.
The post also says that the organizers will be setting up another event in Long Beach, but details surrounding it aren’t known.
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