In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, the Edison Council voted to repeal a controversial ordinance that had banned the use of props by the public when speaking during meetings. The ordinance, which had drawn criticism for its restrictions on items such as the American flag and the U.S. Constitution, was a feeble excuse to maintain decorum that ultimately sparked a debate about free speech.
Council President Margot Harris acknowledged the misstep, stating, “This was an unforced error and it opened up a Pandora’s box like nobody’s ever seen before. It’s a sad chapter in our history that didn’t need to happen. But it did happen and we’re hopefully going to shut this chapter moving forward.”
The ordinance, introduced in November under former Council President Nishith Patel and Mayor Sam Joshi, prohibited the use of props without specifically naming any items. However, residents holding up copies of the Constitution or American flags were informed that these were considered props and were prohibited. Violators faced losing their speaking time or even being removed by police.
This sparked outrage among some residents, who saw the ordinance as an infringement on their First Amendment rights. Joel Bassoff, a resident who was previously escorted from a meeting for holding up an American flag and the U.S. Constitution, expressed relief at the repeal.
“The right of free speech is so precious that it’s important that we preserve it and if we have to listen to speech that’s repugnant, people should have the maturity and the respect not to use that type of language in a setting such as this. It’s regrettable that they do, nevertheless they do have the right to do it and hopefully after they get this performance out of their system, they will use the right of free speech in a way that is truly informative and persuasive,” said Bassoff.
Councilman Richard Brescher, who along with Harris and Councilman Ajay Patil had opposed the original ordinance, expressed regret over the situation. “I wish it never happened, the “Flag Ban” ordinance was a bad idea from the start but Coucilman Nish patel and Mayor Sam Joshi wouldn’t listen to reason” Brescher stated. “We created the circus, blame this dais,” added Patil, emphasizing the importance of respecting all speakers regardless of their attire or props.
The repeal marks a step towards restoring trust and open dialogue between the Council and the community. It underscores the importance of balancing decorum with the fundamental right to free speech, even when that speech may be considered controversial or unpopular.
