A New Jersey council listing the American flag and the Constitution as “props” that are banned from public meetings has sparked outcry and protests.
The Edison Municipal Council issued an ordinance that set out to establish “firm rules of decorum for conduct” at Township Council meetings after recent ones became heated and disruptive.
In addition to prohibiting “the use of props while addressing the Council,” the Edison Municipal Council limited public addresses to four minutes and banned the wearing of costumes or non-medically necessary masks during public speaking. In October, one man arrived at a meeting dressed as a bong, while others covered their faces with Anonymous and Mexican wrestler masks in protest of Council President Nishith Patel’s ban on unnecessary face coverings during public speaking, reported the Edison Reporter.
During a November 25 meeting, several local residents spoke out against banning the American flag as the council considers it a prop. Lawyer Joel Bassoff held up an American flag in defiance of the prop ban. Bassoff received a warning for defying the council’s ordinance and was threatened with removal, prompting one man at the meeting to shout “shame on you.”
A clip of the incident has gone viral on social media. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, while sharing the footage, the New Jersey GOP wrote: “Democrats in Edison, NJ, have banned the American flag, the U.S. Constitution, and other ‘props’ from their Council meetings. The next meeting is December 11 at 7:00 p.m. We hope to see you there.”
Newsweek has contacted the Edison Municipal Council for comment via email.
Stephen Morton/Getty Images
During the council meeting last Monday, Bassoff said at the podium, “I’m holding up an American flag to represent the constitutional values that we should employ at this point.”
Patel then banged the gavel and warned Bassoff that he would forfeit his time if he continued to violate the prop ban by waving the American flag.
“It is my constitutional right to do so, and if you get sued, you will lose,” Bassoff responded. “My suggestion to you is that you get a second opinion from competent counsel because you are wrong.”
Two police officers approached Bassoff, with Patel saying he had forfeited his time to speak.
“Your time should be forfeited, your positions should be forfeited,” Bassoff said. “By your actions, you forfeit every right to preside over this meeting.”
Patel called for the officers to remove Bassoff, as one man off-screen said, “Shame on you.”
🚨 BREAKING: Democrats in Edison, NJ have banned the American Flag, the U.S. Constitution, and other ‘props’ from their Council Meetings.
The next meeting is December 11th at 7:00pm.
We hope to see you there!
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/vZEooeAxof
— New Jersey GOP (@NJGOP) December 3, 2024
After Bassoff refused to leave and sat down, stating he had finished speaking, the council voted to hold a brief recess. He was later filmed walking out of the meeting room, followed by the two officers.
Other residents also spoke out against the ordinance considering the American flag and the Constitution props that should be banned from meetings.
“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 said, according to My Central Jersey. “For you to consider the use of the American flag a prop is disgusting.”
Sue Malone-Barber criticized the council’s attempts to control public meetings, including limiting time at the podium and banning people from wearing costumes.
She said recent council meetings have become “a three-ring circus,” but attempting to control the public at them is “ludicrous, rude, and juvenile.”
“Residents won’t forget how they were made to feel and how things were handled,” Malone-Barber said. “Flags—really a prop? Are you going to throw me out?”
“It’s juvenile to fight this war. You’re losing. It’s just making people more agitated and more determined to provoke getting thrown out,” she added. “Let it go. It’s a waste of taxpayer time.”
Other activities that Ordinance 2239-2024 lists as potentially disruptive and banned at council meetings include the use of loud, threatening, or abusive language and speaking without being recognized by the chair.
