Long Branch Pop-Up Party Organizers Found; Mayor Says He May Sue TikTok, Instagram

LONG BRANCH, NJ — The Long Branch Police Department has identified the people organizing a series of "pop-up" beach parties on social media and plans to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law, Mayor John Pallone said.

However, he did not name those hosting the parties or the criminal charges that would be filed against them; no charges may have been filed at this time.

Also, Pallone announced Monday night his city is "looking into" taking legal action against TikTok and Instagram for hosting the invitations to the mass gatherings.

"Our Long Branch Police Department has tracked down the organizers of these 'pop up' events and plans to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law," Pallone wrote Monday night on Facebook. "We have made contact with NJ Transit and will continue to do so to find a solution that does not call for letting thousands of people off a train at once, swelling our city to capacity limits."

"We are looking into legal action against social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram that allow users to share these posts about the event," he added. "Lastly, we have contacted Governor Murphy’s office and have asked for his help. This issue affects the entire Jersey Shore and we need his assistance to stop it."

This comes after 5,000 teens and young people descended on Pier Village on Saturday night, with some Long Branch residents saying that conditions devolved into a near riot. Thousands of young people were smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol on the public boardwalk. Some danced on top of a police car and smashed its windows in, and others threw bottles and rocks at police when asked to disperse. Many fights broke out in the throngs of people, and there is video circulating on Facebook of a group of teens violently assaulting a man, leaving him with deep, bloody gashes in his face. This video shows what appears to be the worst of Saturday night's fighting (warning, graphic content): https://www.facebook.com/mborr...

In total, 15 people were arrested Saturday, mostly charged with fighting offenses. Many Pier Village shops and restaurants closed early Saturday night because they feared their businesses would be damaged, said eyewitnesses.

There is already a second mass gathering planned for June 18-19. "Beach Linkup Part 2" is calling for people to meet on the "Long Branch beach Sunday, June 19. Time 12 p.m. - UNTIL. BYOLQ (bring your own liquor) and BYOW (bring your own weed). Music, eats, fun, dance battles, $1,000 twerk contest."

Pallone also said that if anyone wants to hold a large public gathering in Long Branch, they must obtain a permit from the city.

"The city of Long Branch requires that all formalized gatherings must obtain a special event permit, per city ordinance," said Pallone, who added that neither Saturday's gathering or the party planned for June 18-19 obtained a permit.

"I want to be very clear that people that want to visit Long Branch are welcome here. However, our city is not going to be a place for those that will disrespect our city, public spaces, streets or businesses with acts of violence, drinking or smoking," Pallone said. "These gatherings start as social media posts which entice young people to come to the beach area and attract most visitors to come here by train. These flyers promote drinking and smoking in public areas, which is illegal."

State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) said he plans to introduce legislation specifically in response to Saturday night that will do the following:

• Increase the penalties for violent actors in non-permitted mass gatherings.
• Increase the penalties for anyone who threatens violence or destruction of property in a social media platform (so someone seen in a TikTok video smashing in the windows of a police car would face stricter penalties).
• Provide increased funding for police mobile surveillance towers.
• Give police more funding to monitor social media for such pop-up parties.

Gopal said he saw videos of twerking dance contests on Saturday night, with men stuffing dollar bills into women's G-strings, and videos of people being beat up and assaulted as the crowd watched and cheered.

"Some of these videos I saw were absolutely disgraceful, and the amount of garbage left on the streets in the aftermath was disgusting," Gopal said.

Long Branch Public Safety Director Domingos Saldida said police were well aware of Saturday night's party because they monitor social media. He said the police department is bracing for the upcoming June 18-19 party, and will call in SWAT units and implement the 9 p.m. curfew again if crowds get out of control.

Last summer, this bill was floated that would have broadened the definition of a riot and allowed police to make more arrests in large crowds. The bill was proposed by state Sen. Robert Singer (R-Ocean) and Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Montville), but it failed to get more backers and never advanced out of committee.

Gopal said Monday he would be leery of such a bill and would likely not back it.

"You are really getting into First Amendment rights," he said. "You can't stop people from gathering in a public place."

Saldida agreed: "We are not going to just stop and frisk everyone coming off the train at Long Branch. That is illegal. This is a public boardwalk."

Prior: 'Threat' Of 2nd Jersey Shore Pop-Up Party Looms Despite Arrests: Cops

Flash Grenade, Smoke Deployed At NJ Shore Beach Party

'Out-Of-Control' Teen Hordes Swarm Jersey Shore, 15 Arrested

Video of some of the fighting Saturday night:

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