JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Jacksonville Police Department responded to quell a disturbance at the AMC movie theater on Western Boulevard after a patron was refusing to wear a facemask inside the theater.
According to police, on Sunday, at approximately 12:55 pm, they were called to the AMC movie theater located at 350 Western Blvd. to remove a person violating the mask-wearing laws. The initial investigation revealed that several patrons had gathered in the lobby of the theater to protest the fact that a patron was being requested to wear a face-covering per the AMC Corporate policy. The complaint alleged that a guest was being discriminated against due to a medical condition covered under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Officers spoke to all parties concerned and determined that the incident occurred on private property and that AMC had requested the guests leave the property who were not complying with AMC’s policy regarding face coverings, which AMC indicated was to comply with the requirements of the Governor’s Executive Order regarding face coverings.
“hether there was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, is a civil matter that must be resolved through a civil action, if necessary. Jacksonville Police Department’s role was to keep peace and investigate the possibility of trespassing on private property,” the department said. “There were no arrests or charges levied in this incident, and all protestors left the business on their own accord.”