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New Jersey council bans Constitution and US flag during public comments
The Blaze ^ | December 2, 2024 | Staff

Posted on 12/03/2024 9:45:57 AM PST by Twotone

The township council of Edison Township in New Jersey prohibited residents from using "props" when addressing the council, including the Constitution and the U.S. flag.

The Edison Municipal Township said the ban was meant to keep any props from becoming “an impediment to the orderly conduct.”

Residents, outraged about the ban, showed up at the council meeting on Nov. 25 to voice their opposition to the law, leading to a five-hour meeting. Many argued the prohibition was a violation of free speech and their constitutional rights.

"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," said resident Maryann Hennessey. "For you to consider the use of the American flag a prop is disgusting."

Council President Nishith Patel banged his gavel while issuing a warning to another resident who dared to defy the order by waving an American flag.

"It’s my constitutional right to do this," said attorney Joel Bassoff. "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."

Patel told officers to remove Bassoff even as many in the audience applauded for the attorney.

"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," he said.

Council members voted for a five-minute recess in order to allow the officer to remove Bassoff.

Fox News Digital said Patel did not respond to its request for a comment about the story.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: arrestnishithpatel; constitution; domesticenemies; doxanddestroy; enemieslist; flag; newjersey; nishithpatel; props; sedition
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1 posted on 12/03/2024 9:45:57 AM PST by Twotone
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To: Twotone

Illegal as hell. This is classic free speech 1st amendment stuff. A copy of the constitution in your hand, or a small flag is not an undue burden.


2 posted on 12/03/2024 9:50:09 AM PST by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI..)
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To: Twotone

Does Patel not have a basic understanding of the U.S. Constitution?


3 posted on 12/03/2024 9:51:36 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Twotone
Send Nishith Patel back to his country !
4 posted on 12/03/2024 9:51:45 AM PST by A strike (death to taggers)
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To: Twotone

“Council President Nishith Patel...”

Honestly, I feel kinda guilty that I noticed this...


5 posted on 12/03/2024 9:52:05 AM PST by cuban leaf (2024 is going to be one for the history books, like 1939. And 2025 will be more so, like 1940-1945.)
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To: Twotone

“Council President Nishith Patel”

Another damned immigrant or anchor baby with zero connection to our founding principles.


6 posted on 12/03/2024 9:52:11 AM PST by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI..)
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To: Twotone

Ok, I’ll ask. Does the city council have an American flag in the meeting room? It’s New Jersey, so the answer could vary.


7 posted on 12/03/2024 9:52:22 AM PST by Bernard ("Liberal Intellectual Incest". Goes along with employment in the Poverty-Industrial Complex.)
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To: Twotone

Boy, Edison sure has changed since I was a kid.


8 posted on 12/03/2024 9:53:26 AM PST by liberalh8ter ( Ephesians 6:10 - 18)
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To: Twotone

Here we go again - ala - confederate names and statues....Different topic - same methodology...

Where do clowns like this come from? Don’t answer that!

Remember “With age comes wisdom. Sometimes wisdom comes alone.”

I believe I got that from a FReeper years ago.


9 posted on 12/03/2024 9:53:29 AM PST by Thank You Rush
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To: Twotone

To be clear here - the ban on the flag applies to using it as a prop when giving commentary to the board.


10 posted on 12/03/2024 9:55:05 AM PST by Skywise
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To: Twotone

Edison is a doughnut, Metuchen is the hole.


11 posted on 12/03/2024 9:57:24 AM PST by IndispensableDestiny
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To: Twotone
Meanwhile...

Hold On New Jersey! Scott Pressler is on his way!

And God bless that young man!

12 posted on 12/03/2024 9:57:42 AM PST by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
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To: FreedomPoster

Can we deport this dumbass Patel?


13 posted on 12/03/2024 9:58:36 AM PST by nwrep
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To: Twotone

The global masters have brainwashed far too many to hate families, hate children, and hate their own country.

All by design and part of the plan to enslave everyone into a one world common religion, control population, and one world government.


14 posted on 12/03/2024 10:00:42 AM PST by Openurmind
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To: Twotone
> …the ban was meant to keep any props from becoming “an impediment to the orderly conduct.” <

Petty tyrants either appeal to “public order” or “public safety”. I’m just surprised they didn’t say someone might throw a copy of the Constitution, and hurt somebody.

But maybe that will come later.


15 posted on 12/03/2024 10:01:00 AM PST by Leaning Right (It’s morning in America. Again.)
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To: Skywise

Yes, but to also be clear, it is extremely stupid and counter productive to impose such a rule specifically mentioning the flag and the Constitution. What did Patel think was going to happen? Now all meetings will be disorderly until the rule is reversed.


16 posted on 12/03/2024 10:02:14 AM PST by hanamizu ( )
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To: Twotone

> Council members voted for a five-minute recess in order to allow the officer to remove Bassoff. <

And that’s a huge problem right there. The cop should have refused that illegal and unconstitutional order. But like a little drone he obeyed.


17 posted on 12/03/2024 10:03:41 AM PST by Leaning Right (It’s morning in America. Again.)
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To: Twotone
Council President Nishith Patel.

Bondi needs to send this Patel guy and the entire board a cease and desist letter - or else!

18 posted on 12/03/2024 10:07:58 AM PST by JesusIsLord
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To: Leaning Right
"Petty tyrants either appeal to “public order” or “public safety”."

More keywords:
'Rules based international order'
'Long established norms'

19 posted on 12/03/2024 10:17:39 AM PST by Tench_Coxe (The woke were surprised by the reaction to the Bud Light fiasco. May there be many more surprises)
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To: Twotone
"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," said resident Maryann Hennessey. "For you to consider the use of the American flag a prop is disgusting."

Hear. Hear!

20 posted on 12/03/2024 10:21:42 AM PST by libertylover (Our biggest problem, by far, is that almost all of big media is AGENDA-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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