With groups targeting state officials' homes, Orem officials pass ordinance to block residential protests

OREM — Orem City Council passed an ordinance on Friday making it illegal to engage in targeted residential picketing in the city of Orem. The ordinance comes as groups plan to protest government mandates at officials' residential homes.

Concerned Citizens of Utah has announced a series of protests, from Nov. 10-15, at state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn's residential home, the Governor's Mansion, Gov. Herbert's residential home in Orem, and Gov.-elect Spencer Cox's residential home in Fairview.

Per Orem's new ordinance, similar to Salt Lake City code, the protest planned at Herbert's residential home on Nov. 15 is now unlawful.

"The City Council desires to establish reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that reconcile and protect the First Amendment rights of picketers to peacefully communicate and express their ideas with the right of persons to enjoy the right to tranquility, well-being and privacy in their residential dwellings," the ordinance reads.

Dunn was the target of previous protests in October.

Protestors who arrived at Dunn's home then were warned by Salt Lake City police officers that their signs violated city code. Per the code, targeted picketed protests in residential neighborhoods is prohibited and a class B misdemeanor. That includes marching with signs, banners, sound amplification devices or other means "of an opinion or a message" outside of any sort of home not used as a place of business, or is the place of a public meeting of the targeted person.

Herbert, who now also finds himself the target of protests, encouraged protesters at Dunn's home in October to reconsider.

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