(a) It shall be unlawful for any group, association, organization, society, or other assemblage of two or more persons to meet and to advocate, and to take substantial action in furtherance of, the commission of an unlawful act of violence or force directed to and likely to produce the imminent and unlawful infliction of serious bodily injury or death of another person within this state.
§ 527.7.Enjoining Actions In Furtherance of Unlawful Acts of Violence Or Force
Title 7. Other Provisional Remedies In Civil Actions · Chapter 3. Injunction · Enacted 1624 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 527.7 makes it unlawful for a group of two or more people to meet and advocate, with substantial steps toward carrying it out, an act of violence or force likely to cause serious injury or death, and lets anyone threatened by that conduct sue to enjoin future meetings advocating it.
Full Text of § 527.7
(b) Whenever it reasonably appears that any group, association, society, or other assemblage of two or more persons has met and taken substantial action in furtherance of the commission of an act of violence made unlawful by subdivision (a) and will engage in those acts in the future, any aggrieved individual may bring a civil action in the superior court to enjoin the advocacy of the commission of any act of violence made unlawful by subdivision (a) at any future meeting or meetings. Upon a proper showing by clear and convincing evidence, a permanent or preliminary injunction, restraining order, or writ of mandate shall be granted.
(c) Whenever it appears that an action brought under this section was groundless and brought in bad faith for the purpose of harassment, the trial court or any appellate court may award to the defendant attorney's fees and court costs incurred for the purpose of defending the action.
Plain-English Summary
Section 527.7 targets organized advocacy of violent conduct rather than harassment between individuals. It makes it unlawful for a group of two or more people to meet and advocate — and take substantial action toward carrying out — an unlawful act of violence or force that is directed at, and likely to cause, serious bodily injury or death to someone in California.
When that pattern is reasonably apparent and the group is likely to keep meeting for the same purpose, subdivision (b) lets any individual who is aggrieved by it sue in superior court to enjoin the group's advocacy of that violence at future meetings. Because an injunction here can touch on speech and assembly, the statute demands a heightened showing — clear and convincing evidence — before a court will issue a permanent or preliminary injunction, restraining order, or writ of mandate.
The statute also discourages misuse of this tool. If a court finds that a lawsuit under this section was groundless and was brought in bad faith to harass the defendant, subdivision (c) lets the trial or appellate court award the defendant attorney's fees and costs incurred in defending the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conduct does § 527.7 target?
Groups of two or more people who meet and advocate, with substantial steps toward carrying it out, an unlawful act of violence or force likely to cause serious bodily injury or death to another person.
Who can sue to stop that kind of advocacy?
Any aggrieved individual, once it reasonably appears the group has taken substantial action toward such violence and will continue meeting to advocate it.
What standard of proof applies to an injunction under this section?
Clear and convincing evidence, a higher bar than the ordinary preponderance standard used for most civil injunctions.
Can the defendant recover fees if the lawsuit was frivolous?
Yes. Section 527.7(c) lets a court award the defendant attorney's fees and court costs if the action was groundless and brought in bad faith to harass the defendant.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1624, Sec. 1.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: enjoin group violence californiainjunction against advocacy of violence california