KEAN CALLS ON A.G. TO PROBE LONEGAN ARREST

Press Release

KEAN CALLS ON A.G. TO PROBE LONEGAN ARREST

By wmurray - January 22, 2008 - 2:23pm

Release Date: Jan 22 2008

Senator Thomas Kean, (R-21), the Senate Republican leader, issued the following statement regarding published reports that government officials colluded with local police to stamp out protests against Governor Corzine’s road tax plan. Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan was arrested by Middle Township Police on the grounds of the Middle Township High School where the Governor was holding a town hall meeting Saturday. Senator Kean is calling on Attorney General Anne Milgram to open an investigation into this apparent violation of Steve Lonegan’s first amendment rights.

“The right to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances is the foundation of our democracy. This right is clearly established in both the United States and New Jersey constitutions and it has been upheld by centuries of case law.

“The citizens’ ability to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms must be rigorously protected. Attorney General Milgram as the State of New Jersey’s highest law enforcement official has a responsibility to investigate this matter.”