(A) The City Council hereby finds and declares that it is the right of every person, regardless of race, color, creed, religious, national origin, sex, age or disability to be secure and protected from fear, intimidation and physical harm caused by the activities of violent groups and individuals. It is not the intent of this article to interfere with the exercise of the constitutionally protected rights of freedom of expression and association. The City Council hereby recognizes the constitutional right of every citizen to harbor and express beliefs on any lawful subject whatsoever, to lawfully associate with others who share similar beliefs, to petition lawfully constituted authority for a redress of perceived grievances, and to participate in the electoral process.
(B) The City Council finds, however, that neighborhoods and schools throughout the city are being terrorized and plundered by street gangs.
(C) The Council further finds that it is prudent to institute reasonable laws so as to make it a violation of a city ordinance to solicit or recruit; conspire to solicit or recruit a juvenile as a member of a criminal street gang or to deter a juvenile from leaving a criminal street gang.
(Ord. 35-1996)