CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / RIVERSIDE

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors suspended an ordinance limiting protest outside a Church of Scientology complex near Hemet, one week after its passage.

The board suspended the measure temporarily, saying it didn’t clearly define where demonstrators could assemble and what form their protests could take.

Last week, Supervisor Jeff Stone introduced the measure requiring protesters to remain 50 feet from the property line of any private residence in unincorporated parts of the county. It was aimed at protesters picketing at the Golden Era Productions complex, which houses 500 people. Stone was prompted by requests from the church after an incident where a protester bit a security man during a scuffle near the complex.

Despite opposition from Scientology foes who called the ordinance an attempt to quash free speech, Stone described it as “urgent” and it passed unanimously.

Two days later, three protesters showed up outside the gates of the compound and were swarmed by Riverside County sheriff’s deputies, who demanded identification and questioned the men. They also asked if the protesters were HIV positive, the protesters said.

On Tuesday, supervisors suspended the ordinance for a month so it could be reworked.

-- David Kelly