Amanda Baumunk and Mazhar Syed: No to Misuse of Authority to Chill Political Discourse in Montgomery Township
Much appreciation and respect to Amanda Baumunk and Mazhar Syed who are also candidates in LD16 where I have declared my candidacy for an assembly seat . I have been since dodging smearing “bribery” accusation bombs as I await the verdict of Platkin’s Office of Attorney General to detemine if they plan to indict me over my protected free speech under a wobbled lawfare accusation of “bribery.”
Amanda Baumunk and Mazhar Syed are challenging for local committee seats in Montgomery Township. This is straight up appreciation and I concur with the perspective presented. FIghtbackbetter will be following closely this campaign and this editor is proud to be among the crop of such new perspectives on the LD16 scene. This statement was taken from their Facebook site on March 31. 2025.
Statement on Misuse of Authority to Chill Political Discourse in Montgomery Township
On March 17, 2025, New Jersey Assembly representatives Mitchelle Drulis and Roy Freiman held a petition signing event in Paris Baguette, attended by several local elected officials and candidates for office in Montgomery Township. During the event, Bob Witanek, a local activist for Palestinian rights, challenged the candidates’ position on the pending IHRA bill in the state legislature, which many critics believe conflates criticism of Israeli policy with antisemitism and thus will infringe on free speech rights. Montgomery Police were sent to Mr. Witanek’s home in Montgomery on March 19 and informed Mr. Witanek that Assemblyman Roy Freiman had accused Mr. Witanek of bribery. This is a clear attempt to use law enforcement to silence political dissent, and is a worrying precedent for local and state officials to set given the current actions of the federal administration, which is detaining and deporting immigrants across the country without due process.
For example, in our own township, ICE arrested Montgomery resident and business owner Ming Xi Zhang, well Known in the community as “Sushi John,’ the owner of YaYa Noodles. Local elected officials need to stand strong for free speech and against oppression. It is deeply troubling when elected officials resort to calling the police on constituents with baseless accusations rather than engaging in open dialogue or defending their positions. Montgomery deserves representatives who engage in honest debate, respect differing opinions, and uphold the principles of fairness and transparency. We stand firmly against any effort to undermine public trust through fear and false allegations.
Amanda Baumunk and Mazhar Syed Democrats for Progress Candidates for Montgomery Township Committee.
For more information:
https://www.politico.com/…/there-just-arent-enough…
Police Representativ eof Montgomery Township Attempts to Justify and Explain Frivolous Accusation Jumping to County and then OAG
