Organizer of NJ coronavirus stay-at-home protest hit with criminal violation
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The organizer of a protest against New Jersey’s coronavirus stay-at-home order is facing a criminal charge, authorities said.
Kim Pagan, of Toms River, N.J., was charged Friday following the small but noisy demonstration in front of the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New Jersey police accused Pagan of violating emergency stay-at-home orders issued by Gov. Phil Murphy to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Pagan was issued a summons and not arrested, according to a news release from state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}MAINE LAWMAKER ORGANIZES PROTEST OF GOVERNOR’S CORONAVIRUS STAY-AT-HOME ORDER
“If you think emergency orders are more like guidelines than actual rules, think again,” Grewal said in a tweet Friday.
Pagan has to answer to the charge in Muncipal Court. Violations of emergency orders constitute a disorderly persons offense carrying a potential sentence of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, Gewal said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The protesters gathered outside the Statehoiuse as Murphy and other state officials held a media briefing about the COVID-19 pandemic inside, News 12 New Jersey reported.
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Protesters called on the Democratic governor to reopen New Jersey and allow people to go back to work and start to repair the economy.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's thanks Montclair landlord David Placek for giving his tenants a grace period to pay their rent during a news conference regarding the COVID-19 cases at the War Memorial in Trenton, N.J. on Saturday, April 11, 2020. (Chris Pedota/The Record via AP, Pool)
Video of the protest posted on social media, captured a woman holding a megaphone shouting, “Open New Jersey now.”
Vehicles driving by could be heard honking their horns.
The protest drew a relatively small crowd and was being policed by troopers wearing masks to protect against the virus, according to NJ.com.
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Protests against coronavirus stay-at-home orders have been held by conservatives and President Trump supporters in other states, including Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota and California, according to reports.