Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents praise peaceful Oct. 18 rally; police say road closure was a safety decision
Summary
Residents told the Waldwick Borough Council that the Oct. 18 "No Kings" protest was peaceful and thanked police for keeping people safe, while the acting police lieutenant said officers closed a road because spectators were encroaching into traffic and it posed a hazard.
Elise Dimma, a Waldwick resident, told the borough council the Oct. 18 "No Kings" rally was peaceful and orderly and that participants left the streets clean. “I felt immense pride seeing our town and nearby communities come together during the rally,” she said, adding that any disorder she observed was isolated and could be documented with photos or video.
Several residents asked why a fire truck was used to block a main thoroughfare during the event. Dolores Connealy said she wondered who made that decision and whether it was necessary. Acting Lieutenant Troy Seafford, who was in uniform at the meeting, said the choice to close the road was made at the scene by the officer in charge after spectators began encroaching on the roadway. “The officer in charge…felt it was the best to close the road at that point in case somebody got into the road for traffic safety,” Seafford said.
Mayor Girardano and administration staff said no businesses formally contacted the borough to report major disruptions. The mayor noted some businesses experienced increased activity but said he received more emails thanking the borough for keeping the event peaceful than complaints. The council reiterated that blocking traffic was not intended to stop lawful protest and emphasized First Amendment protections.
Residents described a range of experiences. One commenter said people in the street briefly interrupted a vehicle with children inside and called for greater care to avoid involving children in political confrontations. Others urged the borough to respond to social-media claims that characterized the rally as a disruptive spectacle by making factual information available publicly.
The council said it will accept written inquiries and, if necessary, follow up at the Nov. 13 meeting. No ordinance restricting the size of protests currently exists in Waldwick, and the mayor said members can request research into ordinances used by neighboring towns if council wishes to explore limits or permit requirements.
The council closed public comment on the event by thanking residents and public-safety agencies for their work that day. The administration said it would investigate specific business-impact claims if businesses come forward.
