FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2020
Alameda County Imposes a Countywide Curfew that Affects Newark Beginning Tonight at 8:00 p.m.
The Alameda County Sheriff proclaimed a Local Emergency and has issued a curfew starting tonight, June 1, 2020. Curfew falls within the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and will continue each night through 5:00 a.m. on June 5th. These acts come after civil unrest, violence, looting, and destruction of property in various cities within Alameda County. A copy of the curfew and declaration of emergency can be found on the Sheriff’s website at www.alamedacountysheriff.org/.
In Newark last night, individuals vandalized four retail establishments resulting in property damage and glass being broken, including at the NewPark Mall. One of the four establishments, CVS Pharmacy on Newark Boulevard, experienced looting.
In order to protect life and property in the Newark community, the City of Newark’s Police Department will enforce the Sheriff’s curfew. Starting at 8:00 p.m. this evening, no persons in Newark shall be on any public street, park, or any other public place. The curfew does not apply to the following:
• Police Officers, Firefighters, other governmental employees engaged in authorized emergency operations, members of the National Guard, or any other responding personnel deployed to the City and County;
• Individuals who can establish to the satisfaction of a peace officer that they are in such place for the sole purpose of traveling to a home or workplace or to obtain medical assistance; and
• Authorized representatives of any news service, newspaper, radio, or television station.
Violation of the curfew is a misdemeanor and violators are subject to arrest at the discretion of law enforcement.
The City of Newark, including members of the Police Department, respects the Constitutional rights of people to peacefully protest. Newark Police Chief Gina L. Anderson stated: “We are saddened and deeply disturbed by the video of the Minneapolis police officers’ interactions with George Floyd that ended in Mr. Floyd’s tragic death and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and the entire Minneapolis community. This incident reflects horribly on all in our profession and undermines the professional work of the nearly 800,000 law-enforcement officers who bravely protect communities across the nation.”
Chief Anderson went on to state: “As Chief of the Newark Police Department, I am proud of the work that our Newark officers do every day and want to take a moment to inform our community that we train and use tactics intended to reduce harm while respecting the sanctity of all human life and the dignity of each person.”
Finally, she said: “The Newark Police Department is committed to providing professional public safety services in partnership with our community. We value our community partnerships and remain dedicated to continuing to strengthen them.”
Contact: Laurie Gebhard, Assistant to the City Manager
City of Newark
(510) 578-4392 or [email protected]
