Teen Arrested After 'Die-In' At Congressman Lance's Office: VIDEO

WESTFIELD, NJ — A 17-year-old Summit High School student was arrested following a student-run "die-in" rally held Tuesday at Congressman Leonard Lance's office in Westfield. Ben Schachter, the founder of Young Democrats Club at Summit High School, was arrested and charged with defiant trespass, according to police.

The rally began at 4:30 p.m., with students from across District 7 holding signs and lying on the ground outside the North Avenue office. The office was set to close at 6 p.m. and all the protestors inside were asked to leave the building so employees could close up, according to Westfield Police Sgt. Michael Walsh.

Schachter refused to leave the building, and as a result was arrested and charged with defiant trespass, Walsh said. He was then transported to the Westfield Police Department, where he was processed and released to his parents.

The chain of events irked his mother, Pam Schachter, and she took to social media to share a video of her son's arrest. (See below)

"We don't have time to wait for Lance to make deals with other Republicans and the NRA because kids are dying every week in schools in this country," she said.

"The point of having a 'Die-In' was to be shocking and show bodies on the ground because that's what happens when there is a school shooting," his mother noted. "We are literally talking about kids being killed in their school and they wanted to make that point to Lance and his office staff."

Related: Students To Host 'Die-In' Rally At Lance's Westfield Office

The rally was organized by Westfield High School sophomore Colin Sumner and other Union County students to advocate for stricter gun laws following multiple school shootings.

Specifically, the purpose of the rally was to persuade Lance to sign the petition to bring HR 4240 to the floor of the House of Representatives — a bill that while protecting second amendment rights, would strengthen the criminal background check database for gun purchases, and thus make it harder for criminals to get guns, according to the rally's Facebook event page.

Lance's office did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment regarding Schachter's arrest or the rally on Tuesday.

(Image 1 via Pam Schachter's video. Images 2 and 3 via National Die-In at Congressman Lance’s Office)

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