ACLU-NJ has urged Bellmawr police to investigate its officers after alleged unlawful targeting of protesters
The nonprofit emailed the letter after members of Cooper River Indivisible contacted the American Civil Liberties Union about citations given to protesters.
The ACLU of New Jersey has urged the Bellmawr Police Department to investigate its officers’ conduct after local protesters alleged the department gave out citations while attendees engaged in “free-speech activities.”
The letter, sent by email Tuesday, said ACLU-NJ had been contacted by several members of Cooper River Indivisible, a Camden County-based grassroots organization, after members alleged that they were targeted by Bellmawr police officers during months of summer protests against President Donald Trump and his administration despite sidewalks and streets being “traditional public forums.”
“As I understand the facts, officers have been issuing traffic and criminal citations — for honking, jaywalking, and other offenses — to participants and supporters during lawful roadside rallies,” the letter reads.
Rebecca Uwakwe, ACLU-NJ’s criminal law reform advocacy director, said Cooper River Indivisible members told her that Bellmawr police have been targeting them since at least June, but that the citations have ramped up this month. She could not confirm how many citations have been given out but said she is representing “a good amount of people” affected by the citations in municipal court.
“No one’s freedom of speech should be chilled because they’re afraid of getting a citation,” Uwakwe said.
The letter asks the police department to investigate officers’ conduct and requests that the department respond by Sept. 11.
The Bellmawr Police Department declined to comment. Uwakwe said she has not heard from police yet.
Cooper River Indivisible, a South Jersey affiliate of nonprofit Indivisible, hosts weekly roadside rallies at an intersection in Bellmawr Borough, Camden County, where people gather to “joyfully disturb the peace” to protest fascism and actions taken by the Trump administration.
Neither Cooper River Indivisible nor its founder, Craig Strimel, immediately responded to requests for comment.
A recent newsletter by the organization said the Bellmawr group “has been unfairly targeted by local police,” noting that one attendee who was recording during a rally was arrested.
It was unclear who was arrested or whether charges were filed after the recent rally.
If the police department is not receptive to dialogue, Uwakwe said, the ACLU will continue to defend protesters and drivers against citations. ACLU-NJ is still interviewing people affecting by the citations, she said, and investigating the situation.
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