Black Lives Matter Group To Protest Bridgewater Mall Arrest

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A rally and protest will be held on Thursday in Bridgewater "demanding justice for 14-year-old Z'kye Husain who was unlawfully arrested and racially profiled by Bridgewater Police" at the mall on Feb. 12.

New Jersey Black Lives Matter Chapters is hosting the rally and protest on Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. outside of the municipal complex at 100 Commons Way in Bridgewater.

"We're strongly encouraging everyone to please attend and stand in full solidarity with Kye and his family in this fight for Justice. Bring #Justice4Kye posters, and your children to be a part of change!" according to a release from the organization.

The NJ chapter of Black Lives Matter works to empower the Black community and undermine elitist sexist white supremacy, in conjunction with the BLM Network, according to the organization.

The organization is demanding the following:

• Release the names of the officers involved in the unlawful arrest
• Terminate the officers involved
• Charge the officers with excessive use of force/illegal arrest
• Release all police reports pertaining to the arrests of Black people by the department
• Oversight by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office over the Bridgewater Police Department.

The rally is in response to a video that began circulating on Feb. 13 showing the fight between a light-skinned teen and a Black teen at the Bridgewater Commons mall. The video also shows township police officers kneeling on and handcuffing the Black teen while the white teen is left sitting on a couch. Read More: Cops Criticized After Stopping Teen Fight At Bridgewater Mall

Since then Murphy has said he was "deeply disturbed" by the video and the New Jersey chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a civil rights organization, is now calling for the Bridgewater officers involved to be immediately removed from the police force pending an investigation.

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is helping Bridgewater with the investigation as they strictly adhere to the New Jersey Attorney General's Internal Affairs Directive. The SCPO has 45 days to complete the investigation. Read More: Murphy 'Disturbed' By Bridgewater Cops' Handling Of Mall Fight

Somerset County officials have also spoken about the incident asking for answers. Read More: Bridgewater Mall Investigation Continues, Officials Want Answers

Nationally known civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented George Floyd's family, is now involved in the Bridgewater mall incident representing Husain. Read More: George Floyd Family Attorney Hired By Black Teen In NJ Mall Fight

Crump is also planning a press conference outside the municipal complex on Wednesday, March 2 at noon to discuss the case.

A protest gathering a large number of people also previously gathered in front of the Bridgewater Police station this past Saturday afternoon following the handling of a teen mall fight raising questions of racial disparity. Read More: Protestors Gather In Bridgewater Over Racial Disparity Issues

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