City officials in Edison Township, New Jersey, are under fire after enacting a decorum ordinance that bars residents from bringing “props” while giving public comments during council meetings.
These “props” include the American flag and the United States Constitution. Critics argue that such bans violate the First Amendment right to freedom of expression.
The controversy reached a boiling point during the November 25 council meeting when resident Joel Bassoff was escorted out of the building for holding a small American flag. Video of the incident has gone viral on social media.
When it was his turn to speak, Bassoff challenged the ordinance as city officials repeatedly tried to interrupt him. “I’m holding up an American flag to represent the Constitution values that we’re employing at the moment,” he said, also arguing that “It’s my…
