Santa Monica: Report On May 31, 2020 Events & Unrest Released

SANTA MONICA, CA — An independent report released this week highlights the challenges and what happened May 31, 2020, as unrest hit Santa Monica while several businesses were looted, damaged and set on fire, prompting several days of curfews for residents.

In the days following George Floyd's killing in Minneapolis, the city and Los Angeles County saw a wave of protests and responses. But on May 31, 2020, more events unfolded in Santa Monica, the report from OIR, an independent agency, found.

The forces that converged on the City on May 31, fueling each other and pushing public safety officials beyond their capacity to manage them, are roughly divisible into three. These are the large (and largely peaceful) protest marches that settled into a confrontation with police on Ocean Avenue, the much smaller factions of unlawful protesters who were engaged in scattered acts of vandalism or other aggression, and the proliferation of looting activity – some opportunistic, some decidedly organized – that broke out in multiple locations. Cumulatively, the variety and scale of these proved to be overwhelming to the Police Department and the other law enforcement agencies that had come to provide mutual aid.

The findings from the independent report and police practice experts will be presented during the Santa Monica City Council meeting Tuesday. It details what occurred, law enforcement's response and the cleanup efforts that followed.

It is true, and important to note, that no lives were lost in Santa Monica as a consequence of the May 31 unrest. But the vandalism and property damage, the losses to business, the divisive handling of protesters, and the undermining of confidence in people’s basic security were collectively substantial. And each of these was deeply and understandably troubling to the people who live and work in the City.

As the case with many local law enforcement agencies, the report indicates that Santa Monica Police Department was not prepared for the unrest and widespread looting that happened.

First, it is only fair to put SMPD’s shortcomings on May 31 in context. Law enforcement agencies all over the country, including in other Los Angeles County locations, found themselves overmatched by the size, scale, and complexity of the unrest that followed George Floyd’s death. Apart from the inherent difficulty in serving as both the facilitator and the subject of passionate protest, many police agencies found themselves lacking in the experience, resources, and strategies to balance First Amendment rights against unpredictable safety and security concerns. Looting and property damage, as well as concerns about heavy-handed police action and mistreatment of demonstrators, were widespread phenomena in those weeks.

Mayor Sue Himmelrich shared a statement ahead of the Tuesday meeting.

"OIR Group’s independent analysis of May 31, 2020 is an important milestone in providing the transparency and accountability the Santa Monica community deserves," Himmelrich said.

"We welcome the after-action report and remain steadfastly committed to learning from it," Himmelrich said. "Going forward, the newly formed Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission will play a role working with the Police Department to ensure OIR Group’s recommendations are implemented. The Council also looks forward to understanding the changes our Police Department has already made in response to the events of May 31, 2020, what recommendations remain, and how we can support our officers in our continued commitment to provide public safety for all."

The meeting will be broadcast on CityTV Channel 16 and through the City’s YouTube channel. Instructions for participation are available on santamonica.gov.

Read the full after-action report.

SEE MORE:

• OC Man Accused Of Burning Up Santa Monica Police Car On May 31
• Photos: George Floyd Protests Continue In Santa Monica