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100 signatures reached
To: The Honorable Phillip Murphy, Governor State of New Jersey
Calling for Governor Murphy to Veto NJ Bill S3507/A4652
We the undersigned residents of New Jersey urge The Honorable Phillip Murphy, Governor of the State of New Jersey to veto bill S3507/A4652.
This legislation as currently written, may have the unintended consequence of impeding our first amendment right to freedom of speech through protest.
Specific concerns include the following lines, which may suppress our voices in this democracy.
Page 3, Lines 7-13
b. Offensive language. A person is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense if, in a public place, and with the purpose to offend the sensibilities of a hearer or in reckless disregard of the probability of so doing, he addresses unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language, given the circumstances of the person present and the setting of the utterance, to any person present.
Page 3, Lines 7-13
b. Offensive language. A person is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense if, in a public place, and with the purpose to offend the sensibilities of a hearer or in reckless disregard of the probability of so doing, he addresses unreasonably loud and offensively coarse or abusive language, given the circumstances of the person present and the setting of the utterance, to any person present.
Page 3, Lines 19-29
d. Disturbance at a public gathering. A person who acts with purpose to disrupt or cause a disturbance at a public gathering or event or who engages in behavior knowing that it will disrupt or cause a disturbance at a public gathering or event is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. “Public” means affecting or likely to affect persons in a place to which the public or a substantial group has access; among the places included are highways, transport facilities, schools, prisons, apartments houses, places of business or amusement or any neighborhood.
- Who would decide if language is offensive? Would the cries of our citizens for justice, for due process, for answers be offensive?
- Who determines if one is disrupting a public gathering, and thereby, causing a disturbance?
- Would citizens loudly raising their concerns at town halls be thwarted?
- Would those stating their dissatisfaction with an unelected billionaire be silenced?
- Would those demonstrating peacefully outside a business, detention center, at a train station or on an overpass be censored?
This bill is ripe with the potential for negative and unintended consequences for "We the People" who want our democracy to last another 250 years.
For these reasons we call for you to veto this bill.
Why is this important?
We ask you to sign this petition because "We the People" are standing for democracy. If this bill is enacted into law it may silence our protests and our efforts to defend our Republic.
Depending on interpretation, would the Tesla Takedowns be targeted? Would vocal citizens shouting questions at townhalls be carted off? Would the Visibility Brigade and commuter actions be thwarted? Would chanting and call and response at rallies be stopped?
We have seen people ripped from the streets because they have spoken out, sent to prisons in other countries without due process for having tattoos.
We have seen spineless Republicans, universities, corporations and even law firms obey in advance.
The language in this bill is open to interpretation by those who wish to silence our voices.
We know the courts and the people must stand for our rights to free speech and public protest.
We cannot let this bill be signed into law in New Jersey!
Depending on interpretation, would the Tesla Takedowns be targeted? Would vocal citizens shouting questions at townhalls be carted off? Would the Visibility Brigade and commuter actions be thwarted? Would chanting and call and response at rallies be stopped?
We have seen people ripped from the streets because they have spoken out, sent to prisons in other countries without due process for having tattoos.
We have seen spineless Republicans, universities, corporations and even law firms obey in advance.
The language in this bill is open to interpretation by those who wish to silence our voices.
We know the courts and the people must stand for our rights to free speech and public protest.
We cannot let this bill be signed into law in New Jersey!
How it will be delivered
This will be presented to the Governor's office.