New Jersey Parents Crash Frelinghuysen’s School Photo Session

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Stand by silently and let their congressman use their kids for a publicity event? Not on their watch, these parents say.

On Monday, seven members of grassroots group Essex Rising endured the frigid weather and gathered at Liberty Middle School in West Orange in an effort to meet with U.S. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, who planned to speak at an assembly at the school.

Carrying signs that read “Meet Us! Not Just Our Kids,” the parent protesters gathered in front of the school and faced traffic with the hopes of asking the congressman one question: Why does he have time to meet with students but not his constituents and voters?

According to Essex Rising, their members and members of another local group, NJ11 For Change, have been visiting Frelinghuysen’s office requesting a “town hall” meeting for three months.

• See related article: WATCH: Frelinghuysen Criticized At Essex County Town Hall

Frelinghuysen has since held several “telephone town halls,” but has not held an in-person town hall since 2013, the group stated.

• See related article: Frelinghuysen Holds Controversial 'Invitation-Only' Telephone Town Hall
• See related article: Frelinghuysen Postpones Telephone Town Hall Meeting Due To Blizzard

“As Frelinghuysen’s constituents, we are tired of him hiding from us while using our children to pretend that he is in touch with his constituents,” Gregory School parent Carole Shlitt said. “We want him to attend a public town hall and explain why he has voted 100 percent in lockstep with Trump, when that does not represent our district.”

New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District - which Frelinghuysen represents - includes several Essex County towns: Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Montclair, North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange.

According to the protesters, Frelinghuysen drove by them without stopping when he arrived at the school.

"You'd imagine our congressman might have stopped to talk to our intentionally unintimidating, small group of concerned parents who are his constituents,” West Orange resident Lisa Brittan quipped. “Many other passerby did.”

Photos: Todd Plitt / Essex Rising

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