By Jorge Casuso

June 23, 2025 -- In the wake of protests and rioting in Los Angeles over federal immigration policies, Santa Monica police officials are asking the City Council to expand the list of items banned at public assemblies.

The proposed items, which have been chosen "based on recent intelligence and operational assessments," are leaf blowers, traffic cones, hammers and frozen water bottles, according to a staff report to the Council.

"These additions are based on direct observation, intelligence reports, and widely circulated videos of recent events -- including those in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA)," according to the report sponsored by Police Chief Ramon Batista.

During the protests "certain tools and common objects were used to disrupt lawful activity, obstruct law enforcement, or conceal dangerous materials," the City Attorney's office wrote.

According to the staff report, leaf blowers were used during the recent rioting "to disrupt the effectiveness of tear gas, blowing the smoke away from crowds and redirecting it toward officers.

"Multiple videos during the current unrest in DTLA document this tactic," the report said.

The proposed emergency ordinance amending the municipal code also bans traffic cones, which "have been intentionally placed over tear gas canisters to trap the gas, then extinguished by pouring water into the opening at the top."

Hammers, mallets or similar tools that "pose a significant risk of injury and property destruction" also would be banned.

"These implements are used not only to damage property directly, but also to break up concrete, cinder blocks, or other hard materials to create projectiles," staff wrote.

In addition, frozen bottles are "often used as improvised weapons" that are "capable of causing serious injury when thrown, and have been documented in multiple protest-related arrests and incidents."

According to staff, "These prohibitions focus solely on preventing items that serve no lawful purpose during a peaceful assembly and are instead known to escalate tensions and facilitate violence."

The proposed ordinance amends the list of 19 items the Council banned in August 2021 and re-adopted the following year due to "increasing concern about violence" at "numerous public protests, demonstrations, marches, and rallies conducted throughout the nation."

The demonstrations ranged from protests against government mandates during the COVID shutdowns to those against the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to the staff report at the time.

The banned items covered in the initial ordinance were wooden sticks, pipes, bats, aerosol spray, projectile launchers, chains, blades, glass bottles, metal containers, torches, bricks and rocks, gas masks, helmets, laser pointers, long umbrellas, bullet resistant clothing and tactical vests.