A town council meeting in Edison, New Jersey, turned contentious last week when a local lawyer was escorted out for protesting a new rule prohibiting the use of items deemed “props.” Joel Bassoff, a resident and attorney, held up the American flag while speaking at the meeting on November 25, prompting officials to intervene.
The new ordinance, which disallows any props—including the flag and even the U.S. Constitution—during public comments, sparked significant backlash from residents. Bassoff, who expressed his outrage over the ordinance, stated, “I’m holding up an American flag to represent the constitutional values.” He insisted that his actions were protected under his constitutional rights, adding that the town council would face legal consequences if they continued with the rule.
As the council president called for order, Bassoff asserted, “You are interfering with the decorum of this meeting by interfering with the right to speech of a member of the public.” His comments resonated with many other residents, who voiced their support.
However, shortly after his remarks, police approached Bassoff at the president’s request and asked him to leave the meeting. Amid the tension, another resident was also removed for holding up the Constitution in protest of the ban.
Maryann Hennessey, another resident in attendance, spoke against the ordinance, arguing, “To consider the American flag and the Constitution a prop is an insult to what the flag stands for and what this country represents. For you to consider the use of the American flag a prop is disgusting.”
The ordinance, identified as Ordinance 2239, aims to create a set of guidelines to maintain decorum in the council’s often heated meetings. While the council maintains that the ordinance does not specifically target symbols of American values, officials argued that such items could disrupt the order of the meeting. Notably, the new rules also restrict the time residents have to address the council.
