Vancouver bans picketing outside homes of elected officials and city staff

The city of Vancouver, Wash. has banned so-called "targeted picketing" after protesters recently showed up outside of the homes of city staff and elected officials.

The city contends that the move is constitutional. Vancouver's attorneys cite a 1988 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibits certain kinds of picketing when it's done in an offensive way.

So long as the ordinance is content neutral about the protests, and still allows picketers to get their message out in other ways, the city says the ban is constitutional.

Elected officials passed it unanimously.

"It's an incumbent upon us as the board members of an organization to protect our staff members and to protect the public that we serve," said Councilmember Erik Paulsen.

The move comes after recent protests at the homes of local leaders over issues like Covid-19 mask mandates and fining businesses for defying lockdown orders.