As other hard-left Democrat governors across the country are doing, California Governor Gavin Newsom is using the coronavirus crisis to strike back at his political enemies and mandate left-wing PC measures. Specifically, he has outlawed protests on taxpayer-funded state grounds and has tightened the state government’s grip on small towns.

By directing the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to restrict freedom of speech on state grounds by banning protests and by simultaneously prohibiting protestors from employing freedom of assembly on land that they paid for, Newsom is running roughshod over the U.S. Constitution.

“Permits are issued to provide safe environments for demonstrators to express their views. In this case, the permit for the convoy was issued with the understanding that the protest would be conducted in a manner consistent with the state’s public health guidance. That is not what occurred… In the interest of public safety and the health of all Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic, effective immediately the California Highway Patrol will deny any permit requests for events or activities at all state facilities, to include the State Capitol, until public health officials have determined it is safe to gather again.”

The CHP is referring to a recent protest in Sacramento against Newsom’s slow-go methods. By all accounts the protest was peaceful, orderly, and adhered to social distancing. But it criticized Newsom—hence the ban.

Last Friday, over 200 also gathered in Huntington Beach, south of Los Angeles, sporting signs that read “Defy Fascist Lockdown,” “Stop the Tyranny, Open California,” and “We Deem Our Governor Non Essential.” Other cities all over the state held similar protests. This protest ban comes a day after Newsom cracked down on small towns and other cities that want to get their people back to work.

Said the leftist governor, “I imagine there’ll be some examples of people just getting ahead of that collaborative spirit. And we may have to dial a little bit of that back.”

“A little bit”? He means all of it.

Newsom said local officials could modify stay-at-home restrictions as long as they didn’t contradict state orders. He would “encourage” any localities that go too far to “pull back.” Translation: Step an inch out of line and I’ll squash you like a bug.

This piece was written by PoliZette Staff on April 23, 2020. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

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