Disrupting Public Gatherings; Defined & Punished

A person commits a violation if, with intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession or gathering, he does any act tending to obstruct or interfere with it physically, or makes any utterance, gesture or display designed to outrage the sensibilities of the group. SOURCE: G.P.C. §§ 58, 81, 302, 403; See also § 375a; *M.P.C. § 250.8; Cal. § 1220 (1971); Mass. ch. 269, § 8; N.J. § 2C:33-9. COMMENT: Section 61.40 generalizes the offense of disrupting meetings proscribed in Penal Code §§ 58, 81, 302 and 403. Here the defendant's freedom of speech must be balanced against the equally cherished freedom of associations, religion and peaceful communication. It is a difficult line to draw and the Section requires a specific Aintent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting@ and limits the penalty for violation of this Section to a fine.