Advocates gather to condemn anti-democratic practices at NJ State House

Trenton—Leaders and spokespeople from New Jersey’s leading advocacy organizations gathered today to condemn ever-worsening anti-democratic practices carried out at the New Jersey State House at the direction of Legislative leaders and the New Jersey State Police. The forcible removal of New Jersey Working Families Executive Director Sue Altman from a public hearing on Monday was the latest and most egregious example of growing efforts to silence and sideline voices of advocates and members of the general public, especially voices of dissent.  In an open letter to the New Jersey Legislature the advocates called for an end to these efforts and for lawmakers to “work with us to deescalate this growing problem and reestablish an open, fair, and transparent process that applies equally to all who participate in the legislative process.”

“Our democracy does not work when differing voices are not welcomed,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Associate Director of New Jersey Citizen Action. ‘Everyone deserves the opportunity to participate, engage, question and challenge the political process. But in the past several years advocates and members of the general public have begun to encounter unprecedented barriers to political participation, especially when opposing positions held by leadership in the state Assembly and Senate. This puts our democracy in jeopardy.”

“Working in New Jersey politics can be messy, but if we allow democratic norms to fall by the wayside, we all lose,” said Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst of New Jersey Policy Perspective. “And if we don’t raise the alarm now, we risk allowing the New Jersey legislature to devolve into a toxic environment like the ones we see in other State Houses like North Carolina or Wisconsin or Michigan. We are better than that. We cannot allow a distinct pattern of diminishing access to the People’s House to take hold.”

The barriers detailed by advocates include:

• Denying advocates the right to wear buttons expressing group affiliations or positions on issues at the State House, and denying them access to the State House to deliver petitions and letters to legislators.
• Holding hearings with very little public notice, especially on complex bills and amendments, making it impossible for advocates and members of the public to review the language, alert others, and organize a response.
• Harassing advocates holding media events or rallies outside the State House by sporadically deployed rules that are intentionally burdensome and unworkable in an attempt to shut down events.

“These antics threaten our democracy and send the clear message that public input is not welcome,” said Jesse Burns, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. “The League of Women Voters of New Jersey believes democracy works best when the public, in all its diversity, is given the opportunity to participate. Members of our Legislature need to remember they are representatives accountable to the public and they are guests in the people’s house – not the other way around.”

“This is a bigger issue than just Sue Altman getting dragged out by the State Police out of the State House,” said Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey. “Democracy is supposed to be messy, contentious and a little raucous. The State House should be the people’s house and the public should be welcomed and have their say — especially on the most contentious issues. There has been a trend to close off access for the public and advocates and muffle voices. We need to reverse this trend,”

“Our state troopers and state leadership should be ashamed of themselves,” said Brian Lozano, Lead Organizer for Wind of the Spirit. “There’s an assault on our first amendment rights, and it’s being carried out by officials who swore an oath to protect and uphold the constitution. The way the state troopers conduct themselves with the resident, tax payers of this state is despicable. We have experienced the state-sponsored silencing of the People on many occasions while fighting for immigrant rights, and we will not stand by idly.”

“Advocates are an important part of the public discourse,” said Renee Koubiadis, Executive Director of the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey. “We connect lawmakers and elected officials to the communities we work in, in particular communities that are underrepresented or marginalized. That makes us invaluable partners in crafting public policy, especially when it will impact vulnerable populations. When our voices are silenced, everyone loses.”

“Bullying intimidation and forcefully removing peaceful protesters is not the way to run a public hearing,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.  This was one of the most shameful instances in over 40 years that I have been coming to Trenton and attending legislative hearings. Our democracy is always at risk when authoritarian tactics are used to stifle dissent. The statehouse belongs to all of us and people need to be treated with respect.”

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