Last Updated on December 17, 2019
New Jersey called off a vote to eliminate a religious exemption for childhood and university vaccinations.
On Monday night, with the chants of hundreds of protesters echoing through the State House hallways, the state of New Jersey ultimately decided to pause the vote for the second round of votes that would need to pass bill S2173.
Anti-vax protestors pressing up against the entrance to the state Senate chamber, chanting "in god we trust," while session continues pic.twitter.com/IPuiXMmkDq
— Daniel Munoz (@DanielMunoz100) December 16, 2019
S2173 would call for the elimination of religion as an acceptable reason in New Jersey to excuse your child or college student from vaccinations required for student attendance.
This bill would remove the right to religious freedom and ignore those exercising their First Amendment from 14,000 school children and many more supporters.
The State Senate, according to Sen. Joseph Vitale [D, Middlesex] was only one vote short of passing bill A3818 which would have only allowed the children with Doctor diagnosed conditions to be exempt from bill S2173.
Protestors stood strong outside for hours as the State House members of Trenton deliberated.
A crowd totaling over 500 individuals gathered outside hours before the vote demanding that the lawmakers uphold their civic duties and represent the people concerning the gross violations these bills pose on their constitutional rights as American citizens.
The cries of “kill the bill,” and “we won’t stop,” could be heard throughout the entire State House as well as down West State Street in Trenton, New Jersey.
Supporters sent food and coffee deliveries to the protestors to help keep up morale, and show their support to these strong Constitution defense warriors, real Americans.
A proud conservative, who wishes to remain anonymous, said “hopefully more people will join the fight to retain our constitutional rights when they realize this bill threatens the existence of the amendments promised to us as Americans.”
The protest that took place over most of Monday was one of the largest and longest in the State House’s history, and it happened to be on a day in which lawmakers were already deliberating on over 100 pieces of legislation.
According to NJ.com, “Vitale and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, the measure’s sponsors, said they weren’t deterred by the raucous crowds, who for hours chanted ‘Kill the Bill!’ and ‘In God We Trust!’”
State Senate President Sweeney was still rather insistent that the Senate will not only bring this bill up again in the next few weeks, but that he believes much like the first vote the State House of Trenton will pass bills S2173 and A3818.
These bills have already passed with a 45-24 vote not including the seven absent earlier that Monday.
Even then, protestors could be heard from the gallery seating chanting, “we will not comply!”
And inside the Senate chambers, the sound of the protesters chanting “In God we trust!” just outside the door is drowning out lawmakers debating legislation. pic.twitter.com/9GYwW3rhmM
— Brent Johnson (@johnsb01) December 16, 2019
Protestors remained outside the State House even as long as two hours after Vitale had confirmed to the NJ Advance Media that he did not have enough votes to pass the bill.
“They can cheer all they want. This bill is going to get done. This is good public policy,” the Senate president said. “There is no science to back up what they these people are saying.”
There are two remaining voting sessions in January that fall into the time frame required to pass these bills without requiring the legislative hearing to start all over again.
If the Senate eventually passes these anti-constitutional bills, the final decision will be on Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, to decide if he will sign it into law or veto it.
Murphy refused to say whether or not he would sign the bill or veto. Instead, he insisted that “the safety of all nine million residents is job No. 1 for me, and in particular our kids.”
Gov. Murphy continues, “I also want to say we base our decisions on science and facts, and we will do that in this case, as well,” Murphy said. “And lastly, I recognize the passions on this on both sides.”
State law in New Jersey since 2008 has mandated parents to write a letter to their school district specifying that the administration of these mandated vaccinations violates their religious principles.
This practice excuses 14,000 children according to the state data.
Parents in New Jersey, as well as nation wide protestors of mandatory vaccinations commonly have little trust in pharmaceutical companies who can provide no long term research for shots that get modifications annually.
These parents in New Jersey have threatened to home school or relocate out of state if this bill becomes a law.
