PROTESTORS (above and below) makes their points during demonstration Friday in downtown Huntington Beach against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order closing all Orange County beaches (Special to The Tribune by Clay Bock).

A crowd estimated in the range of 5,000 people showed up Friday in downtown Huntington Beach to protest Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to close all Orange County beaches as of May 1.

The protestors displayed homemade signs and displayed American flags – as well as flag-themed beachwear – with much of the throng gathered at Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway.

California Highway Patrol personnel and HB police officers, including a mounted horse unit, were on hand to keep traffic flowing at one of Orange County’s busiest intersections. 

After Thursday’s directive from Sacramento, the Huntington Beach City Council called an emergency session that afternoon. The council voted 5-2 to authorize City Attorney Michael Gates to pursue legal action to overturn Newsom’s order.

Despite the possibility of legal action, the city will not defy the order. Because HBPD officers were deployed to handle the protest, “voluntary compliance” was asked of the public regarding staying off the beach.

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