TRENTON — An Atlantic City activist is suing the state of New Jersey over his arrest at a state Senate hearing last March, in which he testified against a controversial plan for the state to take over parts of the financially struggling seaside gambling resort.
Steven Young, the president of the south Jersey chapter of the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network was handcuffed and taken into custody by State Police officers after he was removed from the Statehouse hearing and tried to get back into the room.
Disorderly persons charges were later dismissed, according to the Associated Press, which was the first news outlet to report on Young’s lawsuit.
But Young told the AP that “when it comes to the state taking away our sovereignty and our Constitutional rights, that is very important.”
“I was speaking up against it, and I guess they wanted to make an example of me,” he told the wire service. “You have to step up and fight back against this kind of thing.”
NJ Advance Media could not immediately reach Young for comment Wednesday.
Atlantic City activist arrested at tense Statehouse hearing
Sgt. Brian Polite, a spokesman for the State Police, declined comment.
Spokespeople for Gov. Chris Christie’s administration did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Young was one of many Atlantic City residents who traveled to Trenton to speak out against the takeover legislation at the March 10 hearing of the Senate’s budget committee.
“If President Barack Obama did this to the state of New Jersey, there would be a civil war,” Young said. “We are at war over this legislation. You are to take away our sovereignty and our right to vote. You don’t do that to a third-world country.”
But toward the end of his testimony, Young got into a heated argument with state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex).
Atlantic City State Takeover Hearing Arrest -1
Ruiz told Young he “disrespected” the committee and asked him to end his testimony. Young refused, and Ruiz called a recess. A State Police officer then escorted Young out of the room.
Young tried repeatedly to get back into the meeting but was stopped in the hallway by State Police officers, who warned him he was committing “obstruction.” They arrested Young after he was told multiple times to stop.
Christie’s administration was eventually given approval to commence with the takeover in November.
Atlantic City has been struggling to recover in the wake of five casinos closing. But Christie, a Republican, argued for months that the takeover was needed because local officials have not done enough on their own to stop the bleeding.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
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