Stop the Bans from our Public Meetings

A call to end the Abuse of Power and Exclusion from Public Speaking and meetings. Enough is indeed enough says….

Newark Advocate
Munirah El Bomani

I am petitioning for a Judge, Human rights lawyers, organizations and advocates; to step up and help us enforce our First Amendment rights that are protected by the constitution.

On February 7th, 2024 Approximately 6:30, I spoke at Newark City Council meeting, which is a public meeting, and at the end of the meeting the Business Administrator Eric Pennington came up to the podium to address my comments. When he started calling my name, and disputing my comments to discredited me. When I responded back the Council President LaMonica McIver called the police officer and ejected me from the meeting for responding out loud.

On 2/16/24, I received an email from the city clerk Kecia Daniels stating that I was excluded from meetings on 2/21/24 and 2/27/24 for being disorderly in the council meeting. I wasn’t disorderly. I just responded back to comments that were made towards me, by shouting, where is my equal airtime? In my opinion, It’s like a case of entrapment. They provoke you. They want to address us, but we can’t exercise our freedom of expression. This abuse of Power, banning, excluding advocates from public building and meetings must be addressed. I/we the people of Newark deserve Justice, and a right to redress our grievances.

So on February 20th, I went to the Superior Court of Essex County to file an injunctive relief against the city of Newark, CouncilPresident LaMonica McIver and City Clerk Kecia Daniels for violating my rights to due process of the law, right to an appeal process or hearing on the matter, and for violating my right to petition my grievances or redress to the government through a peaceful assembly. I seek to prosecute this case under 18 USC 241 and 242 for deprivation of rights under the color of law, and a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act 10:4-12 paragraph (a) and NJSA 10:6-2 Paragraph C and F.

As for the council rules, The First amendment states under Article 6, that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. According to the First Amendment, These council rules may be unconstitutional, and so it’s time for the 7 people and myself, who rights are being disregarded and trampled over, to challenge these civil rights violations and abuse of Power coming from public officials who took an oath to serve, protect and uphold the constitution.