The Collaborative International Dictionary
Unlawful \Un*law"ful\, a. Not lawful; contrary to law. -- Un*law"ful*ly, adv. -- Un*law"ful*ness, n.
Unlawful assembly. (Law) See under Assembly.
Assembly \As*sem"bly\, n.; pl. Assemblies. [F. assembl['e]e, fr. assembler. See Assemble.]
A company of persons collected together in one place, and usually for some common purpose, esp. for deliberation and legislation, for worship, or for social entertainment.
A collection of inanimate objects. [Obs.]
--Howell.-
(Mil.) A beat of the drum or sound of the bugle as a signal to troops to assemble.
Note: In some of the United States, the legislature, or the popular branch of it, is called the Assembly, or the General Assembly. In the Presbyterian Church, the General Assembly is the highest ecclesiastical tribunal, composed of ministers and ruling elders delegated from each presbytery; as, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, or of Scotland.
Assembly room, a room in which persons assemble, especially for dancing.
Unlawful assembly (Law), a meeting of three or more persons on a common plan, in such a way as to cause a reasonable apprehension that they will disturb the peace tumultuously.
Westminster Assembly, a convocation, consisting chiefly of divines, which, by act of Parliament, assembled July 1, 1643, and remained in session some years. It framed the ``Confession of Faith,'' the ``Larger Catechism,'' and the ``Shorter Catechism,'' which are still received as authority by Presbyterians, and are substantially accepted by Congregationalists.
Syn: See Assemblage.
Wikipedia
Unlawful assembly is a legal term to describe a group of people with the mutual intent of deliberate disturbance of the peace. If the group are about to start the act of disturbance, it is termed a rout; if the disturbance is commenced, it is then termed a riot. In Britain, the offence was abolished in 1986.
Usage examples of "unlawful assembly".
So far we have only got attending an unlawful assembly, wilful destruction of property, inciting to violence, using abusive and threatening language, obstructing the police in the execution of their duty, assaulting a policeman and,or policemen, common assault, assault with an offensive weapon and,or assault with intent.
An unlawful assembly is two or more niggers hangin' around after dark.
By dawn nine others were in jail on charges ranging from unlawful assembly, to carrying of deadly weapons, to attempted extortion.
ALL CIVILIANS LEAVE THE AREA OR YOU MAY BE CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION AND UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY.
THE PENALTY FOR OBSTRUCTION AND UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY IS TEN YEARS IN THE STATE PENITENTIARY OR A FINE OF TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OR BOTH.
And went on to offer his own feelings about the severity of sentences currently being meted out to rioters and those engaged in unlawful assembly.
The act said that any unlawful assembly of twelve persons or more had to disperse within an hour of having the act read to it.
And then you have to find a right place, meadow or heath, where there is plenty of room and no busy-body magistrate likely to come down on you for unlawful assembly or breach of the peace.