Azzarello Denounces Continued Flag Ban After Mayor Joshi’s Apology
Edison, NJ – Local resident Russ Azzarello appeared on Fox & Friends this morning to criticize Edison Township’s ongoing flag ban, which remains in effect despite a public apology from Mayor Sam Joshi and Council President Nish Patel. Azzarello called for the immediate rescission of the ordinance, highlighting the sentiment of residents throughout New Jersey’s sixth largest town.
Azzarello, a vocal critic of the ban who also spoke at a recent Council Meeting while holding the American flag, argued on Fox & Friends that the ordinance is a clear violation of the First Amendment and an attempt to stifle dissent.
Many residents perceive the ordinance as a thinly veiled attempt to silence community watchdogs like Christo Makropolis. Christo who operates the Jersey Watcher youtube channel with 37.2k followers has been a fixture at council meetings, often using the public comment period to raise concerns about government transparency and alleged misconduct.
Mayor Sam Joshi and Council President Patel both issued a public apology, acknowledging that the ordinance was “overly broad” and “unintentionally infringed upon the rights of residents.” However, despite the apology and claims that the flag was never banned, the ban remains in place.
Azzarello and other residents are calling for the council to take immediate action to rescind the ordinance. They argue that the continued enforcement of the ban is a blatant disregard for the First Amendment and an affront to the principles of free speech.
“The governing body needs to do the right thing and rescind this ordinance immediately,” Azzarello said. “Anything less is unacceptable.”
The controversy surrounding the flag ban is likely to continue, with residents vowing to keep up the pressure on the council until the ordinance is repealed.
