The president of the Edison, New Jersey, city council says the American flag will be allowed at gatherings

EDISON – Township Council President Nishith Patel apologized Tuesday for the “confusion” surrounding the recently passed decorum ordinance that suggested props such as the American flag would not be allowed to be used by residents when posing at meetings contact the Council.

“Let me be clear: The Edison Council has never banned the American flag from our public gatherings and we never will,” Patel said in a statement more than a week after the decency ordinance was passed.

“The flag of our nation and state will be displayed both prominently and honorably in our council chambers. We proudly and humbly begin each Council meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag, reaffirming our commitment and loyalty to our country and the historical values on which it stands,” Patel said.

Mayor Sam Joshi agreed.

“Our nation’s flag has never been banned, nor will it ever be banned from our community complex or any government building that we exclusively operate. “We are all proud Americans who believe in the principles, morals and values that the American flag represents,” Joshi said, adding that he had spoken to Patel about the ordinance.

Patel, who apologized to his fellow council members and the residents of Edison and New Jersey, said it was never the council’s intention to ban the American flag. He said that nowhere in the regulation was there any reference to a ban on the state flag.

“If any of my comments during the previous council meeting implied this, I apologize. We are all proud Americans and respect the history, morals and principles of our great nation,” he said.

More:Where would Edison house 727 federally mandated affordable housing units?

On November 25, the council approved two ordinances related to the rules for council meetings; One of them has to do with decorum in meetings, which are often lengthy and noisy.

This regulation prohibits activities that are considered disruptive, such as: B. loud, physically threatening, abusive or excessively vulgar language; speak or attempt to address the Council outside of the permitted public comment periods without prior acknowledgment by the Chair; Wearing costumes or non-medically necessary masks while speaking to the Council; Use of props during an address to council or any comment, performance or other behavior intended to cause disruption.

During last week’s meeting, when residents addressed council with an American flag, they were told it would be used as a prop.

When resident Joel Bassoff held up a copy of the U.S. Constitution and the American flag, Patel told him he was using it as a prop and was violating council rules and continued to face deportation by police. He was escorted from the council chamber by police.

Several residents objected to the idea of using the American flag and the Constitution as props. It’s unclear what will happen at next week’s council meeting if a resident attempts to address council with a flag.

Councilman Richard Brescher, who voted against the decency ordinance along with Councilman Ajay Patil, said it was clear at the Nov. 25 meeting that the flag would be considered a prop. Councilwoman Margot Harris, who was unable to attend the meeting, also objected to the ordinance.

“I was there in the room. “It was very obvious that he (Patel) banned the flag as a prop when you hold it in your hand,” Brescher said, adding that the apology letter was just a throwback while videos of the meeting had gone viral.

The president of the Edison, New Jersey, city council says the American flag will be allowed at gatherings

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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