12 Charged After Protest At Rep. Josh Gottheimer's Wyckoff Home

This story was updated at 3:43 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19.

WYCKOFF, NJ — Twelve protesters have been charged with criminal trespassing after a demonstration outside the Wyckoff home of Congressman Josh Gottheimer.

A group of protesters with the Sunrise Movement — a national climate change organization with local chapters — organized the rally, which began at Russell Farms Park before moving into the congressman's neighborhood on Monday.

Wyckoff police confirmed that roughly 40 people gathered for the demonstration, and were advised to not block any roadways or enter onto any private property once the protest moved from the park to the residential neighborhood.

"Numerous attempts were made by law enforcement to de-escalate the situation and several warnings were issued," police said.

"Twelve of the demonstrators ignored police orders to vacate the private driveway that they had entered," and were arrested as a result, police said.

A spokesperson for the department said that may have been part of the plan, adding that "an individual who identified herself as the law enforcement liaison for the group advised that certain demonstrators had assembled with the intent of being arrested."

According to the Sunrise Movement, the gathering followed others this fall in Bergen County as a protest against Gottheimer's stance on the $3.5 trillion budget plan. That plan includes multiple climate measures.

“Josh Gottheimer likes to talk about how he’s working across the aisle to deliver solutions for working families in his district, but really he’s a tool for corporate donors,” said Esther Feldman, Sunrise activist from New Jersey.

“New Jerseyans want a liveable future free of climate catastrophes. It’s not progressives that are holding up the bipartisan bill and reconciliation, it’s him and corporate Democrats that are obstructing the will of the people.”

This isn't the first protest to target Gottheimer's preferred order of operations when it comes to legislation, as he has fought for an infrastructure bill to be passed prior to the budget. Recently, Gottheimer has said that he supports both bills, and the climate provisions within the budget.

"As I’ve said for months, I remain committed to passing the once-in-a-century Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and a commonsense reconciliation package that’s good for New Jersey and for our country," he said in an Oct. 5 statement.

Protesters gathered outside his office during a recent visit from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in Glen Rock, and again in August for the same reason.

Gottheimer wasn't home at the time of this protest, but a spokesperson from his office said he is taking the matter seriously.

"Yesterday, local law enforcement arrested several individuals for trespassing and refusing to leave Josh’s home," the spokesperson said on Tuesday.

"Occupying a Congressman’s property crosses a line of basic decency and, in this case, left his family concerned for their safety. The Congressman was not home at the time. We appreciate the timely action of our local police departments."

Those charged are:

• Marielle M. Miller, Allentown, PA
• Abigail Rose Leedy, Philadelphia, PA
• Ester L. Feldman, Brooklyn, NY
• Gail M. Tierney, Harrisburg, PA
• Beth E. Keenan, Robbinsville, NJ
• Alexander I. Selsey, Hazel Park, MI
• Nelson Pavlosky, Philadelphia, PA
• Arthur Borden-Heilman, Brooklyn, NY
• Seth E. Wohl, Warrington, PA
• Richard C. Avvenire, East Brunswick, NJ
• Edward K. Brown, Philadelphia, PA
• Gabriel A. Reicher, New York, NY

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