A resident of Edison, New Jersey, was removed from a town council meeting last week for waving an American flag and criticizing the town council for passing a new ordinance that bans “props,” such as the American flag and the U.S. Constitution, from being used by residents during the public comment portion of the council’s meetings.
During a five-hour meeting on November 25, Edison residents criticized the town council for violating their First Amendment Rights with the new ordinance, according to My Central Jersey.
“To consider the American flag and the Constitution a prop when someone raises it is an insult to what the flag is, what the flag stands for, and what this country is,” Maryann Hennessey, a town resident, said at the meeting. “For you to consider the use of the American flag a prop is disgusting.”
Another resident, Joel Bassoff, who is a lawyer, waved a small American flag as he criticized the town council and warned that they could face legal consequences over the new ordinance.
“I’m holding up an American flag to represent the constitutional values,” Bassoff told the town council, prompting Council President Nishith Patel to repeatedly bang his gavel and demand the lawyer end his comments.
“It’s my constitutional right to do this,” Bassoff said. “If you get sued, you will lose. My suggestion to you is that you get a second opinion from competent counsel because you are wrong. You are interfering with the decorum of this meeting by interfering with the right to speech of a member of the public. And it should stop now.”
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As Bassoff continued to speak, two police officers stood behind him. Patel instructed the officers to have Bassoff removed, saying, “His time is forfeited.” In response, Bassoff said, “Your time should be forfeited; your positions should be forfeited. By your actions, you forfeit every right to preside over this meeting.”
While Bassoff agreed to leave the podium and return to his seat, Patel explained that he needed to be removed for exceeding his time limit, refusing to listen to the police officers, and refusing to respect the council president. Bassoff replied, “I’m ready to sit here quietly, and I will not interfere with your decorum – so I have a right to be here.”
In a video of the exchange, the council can be heard voting for a short recess as the police officers escorted Bassoff out of the council chambers.
According to Fox News, while the controversial ordinance approved by the town council does not explicitly mention that the American flag and U.S. Constitution are banned during town council meetings, Patel warned, “Any props will be considered not conducive to good order, and as the president, I am making that call.”
