Drone video of Black Lives Matter mural in Jersey City on August 11, 2020. NorthJersey.com
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. – State legislators have called for an investigation into the practices in Englewood Cliffs, after 18-year-old Emily Gil received a $2,500 bill for organizing a Black Lives Matter protest in town earlier this summer.
State senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson expressed their outrage about Mayor Mario Kranjac’s decision to charge Gil for police overtime at the July 25 event.
“We were outraged to learn about the treatment of a young Englewood Cliffs resident by her own Mayor and Administration,” their statement said. “Students like Emily Gil should be celebrated and not be threatened with a bill for $2,500 by her own local community for speaking out against racism and bigotry.”
They called for a review by the ACLU to review the constitutionality of this “outrageous decision and to step in to protect Emily’s rights if necessary.”
A request for comment from the ACLU was not immediately returned.
The Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders also released a statement calling for the “onerous charge” to be rescinded.
They noted that they are “encouraged and pleased that so many young people have taken a stand to let their voices be heard” and were “appalled” to hear about the bill.
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“When she tried to apply for a permit, she was told she would need to do so in-person. Citing concerns surrounding COVID-19 she asked for a teleconference meeting, and was rebuffed and ultimately ignored,” the statement says. “Teleconference meetings are commonplace and failing to offer that option to residents concerned for their health or the health of loved ones is simply not acceptable. Charging people for police overtime as a prerequisite for holding a public gathering creates a chilling effect on free speech, and sends the message that only those with an ability to pay will be given the ability to speak.”
Councilman Ed Aversa said he would “encourage and support” an investigation and also called this an effort to “bully and scare” residents.
“That has never happened in the 11 years I’ve been on council,” he said. “I’m going to make sure to make a motion or resolution or whatever it takes to make sure that Emily Gil does not have to pay anything.”
Gil believes that she received the bill because she has been outspoken about the borough’s ongoing affordable housing litigation.
Follow Katie Sobko on Twitter: @katesobko
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