Well, it seems the Township of Edison, New Jersey, has decided to solve its “three-ring circus” problem by setting the Constitution on fire—or at least metaphorically.
A new ordinance banning “props” during public comment portions of town council meetings has sparked outrage, and rightfully so. When waving an American flag or holding a pocket Constitution is considered disruptive, you have to wonder what kind of democracy these council members think they’re running.
The most recent display of this absurdity came when resident Joel Bassoff, a local lawyer, dared to hold up a small American flag while addressing the council. His message? A reminder of constitutional values—those pesky things like free speech and the First Amendment.
But that was apparently too much for Council President Nishith Patel, who banged his gavel like he was auditioning for a bad courtroom drama and ordered Bassoff to stop. When Bassoff refused, the cops were called to escort him out. Yes, because nothing screams “decorum” like hauling a man out for waving the stars and stripes.
Let’s pause to consider the irony. This is a township council meeting, a forum explicitly designed for public input and free expression. Yet, under this new ordinance, any item deemed a “prop” by the council president is now forbidden. Never mind that “props” apparently include the literal symbols of American democracy. Patel insists these rules are necessary to avoid a “circus,” but banning the very flag that stands for the right to speak freely? That’s not order; that’s authoritarianism dressed up as decorum.
🚨Edison Township bans our American flag from meetings.
As a mom, this breaks my heart. We should teach respect & pride for our country, but now, our symbol of freedom is called a “prop.”
This isn’t decorum; it’s silencing our patriotism. New Jersey is next in 2025 to turn… pic.twitter.com/AASsltfYC1
— Queenie 👑 (@Queen_NJ88) December 2, 2024
Of course, the council has defended the ordinance by pointing to past disruptions, like someone showing up in a bong costume. Sure, that’s not exactly high-minded civic engagement, but do we really need to lump the American flag in with novelty costumes? The distinction between gimmickry and genuine expressions of patriotism seems pretty obvious—unless, apparently, you’re running Edison’s township council.
Bassoff and other residents didn’t let this slide quietly. Bassoff warned the council of potential legal action, pointing out that these restrictions likely won’t hold up in court. He even got a round of applause from the audience, many of whom were just as appalled by the council’s overreach. Resident Maryann Hennessey summed it up perfectly: calling the American flag a “prop” is an insult to everything it represents.
The fallout from this ordinance is about more than one contentious meeting. It’s a test of how much bureaucrats think they can suppress public participation under the guise of “good order.” When citizens are treated like agitators for daring to exercise their constitutional rights, it sets a chilling precedent. If a local government can ban the flag and Constitution from its meetings, what’s next? Silencing dissent altogether?
New Jersey lawyer ejected from Edison town council (NJ) meeting for waving American flag and holding a copy of our Constitution of the United States!!! pic.twitter.com/3LYxH0nqxO
— Jill Krystofinski Mantell (@jillski440) December 3, 2024
The council’s actions reek of overreach, and their justification is laughable. The residents of Edison don’t need their council to protect them from the sight of a flag—they need representatives who understand that democracy is messy by design. After all, the First Amendment wasn’t written to protect comfortable speech; it was written to protect uncomfortable truths. Maybe Patel and company should crack open a pocket Constitution and read it—before they ban that, too.
