I feel frustrated every time my phone buzzes to notify me that the government mandated a new curfew. Civil unrest after the murders of George Floyd and Daunte Wright have prompted cities in Minnesota, and across the country, to issue emergency curfews. Presence in public places during curfew hours can be penalized with fines or jail time. These curfews cause more harm than good.

Curfews do not hamper rioting, which can easily occur outside of curfew hours or in unmonitored areas where it would be difficult to enforce. Curfews create a sense of panic that can even increase rioting.

In addition, curfews are a violation of free will. My friends and I have felt pressure to not attend peaceful protests because of the repercussions of violating curfew. People should have the right to stand up for their beliefs without government interference.

Especially since they are at short notice, curfews interfere with necessary activities, such as getting groceries or health services. For example, my ultimate frisbee game was canceled due to concern that there would be an abrupt curfew in light of Chauvin’s conviction. Calling off such activities is harmful to mental and physical health.

Individuals experiencing homelessness, commuting to work, escaping danger, receiving critical care and journalists are legally exempt from curfew. However, law enforcement often fail to distinguish these individuals from people intentionally breaking curfew. For instance, police arrested peaceful protestors and detained journalists after Daunte Wright was shot. Curfews give law enforcement an excuse to target innocent people, especially people of color.

Curfews are not needed for the public’s security — if a person feels unsafe outside, they can choose to stay indoors or temporarily relocate to a different area. Employers and schools should prioritize the public’s well-being by making accommodations for people to stay safe. This way, people can choose to go out or not based on their comfort level, instead of having rules forced on them.