The issue is that there were over 400 people (mostly young) hanging out at all hours in a businesses lot during business hours.
It hurts business. The business could lose their ability to maintain insurance. Lawsuits could happen that can award millions against K-Mart if someone got hurt out front and they did nothing to get rid of them.
When the crowd is in the hundereds, you remove the crowd by arrest or what ever means. You would charge the violent ones with Felonys if needed. So your point is well taken with me in that form.
Hundreds hanging out in front of business are subject to the law.
There used to be a "youth" crowd that would hang out very near here in the mid to late 90's. People would come for miles around at any time of night and drink, hang out cuss real loud, sell and do drugs.
Now if they'd been quiet about it, it would've been OK. But of course, they weren't and it was horrible.
It took years of calling the cops to get rid of them. Let them hang out in front of thieir own homes and make noise.
Once the police finally cracked down, instead of sympathizing with them, it finally stopped.
Now all we hear is crickets. Ahhh.