Gaza protesters arrested for disrupting Teaneck council meeting, police say

A critic of Israel's actions in Gaza was arrested for allegedly disrupting a Teaneck council meeting Tuesday and possessing a stun gun illegally, township police said Wednesday.

Teaneck resident Layla Graham, 32, was arrested at the town hall meeting and also faces charges of defiant trespass and resisting arrest, police said in a statement Wednesday.

Another Teaneck resident, Amanda Kearney, 23, was also arrested at the meeting after she physically interfered with officers attempting to remove Graham, police said. Kearney was charged with defiant trespass and obstruction.

Graham, who frequently protests against Israel at council meetings and on social media, interrupted the meeting several times with a blaring siren and ignored the mayor's request for her to stop, said Councilmember Hillary Goldberg. A video from the meeting posted online shows Mayor Michael Pagan and other town officials repeatedly asking two people in the crowd to stop disrupting the proceedings, before eventually calling on police.

The police statement said one of those two, an "unidentified adult male," was "screaming" at officers but eventually left the municipal building. Graham refused to leave until police "used force to physically escort her out" the statement said. She was arrested after first blocking the entrance to the building and then coming back inside, according to police.

During her arrest, Graham was searched. In a video provided by former councilman Keith Kaplan, she can be seen first asking police why they were going through her belongings, before she informs them that she had a "personal weapon" in her bag.

According to the Teaneck police statement, while adults may legally possess a stun gun in New Jersey, it's illegal to bring the devices into schools and public buildings.

Graham's protest at the council meeting included a sign that referenced the death of children in Gaza. Her actions come against the backdrop of months of tension in Teaneck, starting with Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel and continuing through the Israeli campaign in Gaza.

An event at Congregation Keter Torah discussing real estate in Israel and West Bank settlements drew hundreds of protesters to town in March; two arrests were made after police said demonstrators threw objects and sprayed red paint at pedestrians and vehicles entering the temple. Jewish residents have objected to what they view as anti-Israel and antisemitic slogans at other demonstrations.

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A New York man, meanwhile, was arrested last week for allegedly threatening a woman taking part in a pro-Palestinian vehicle caravan in April. Ebrahim Yehounatan, 71, of Flushing, New York, allegedly brandished a knife towards the woman as the procession drove through town, according to Teaneck police.

Councilwoman Goldberg expressed frustration at Tuesday night's disruption. "We have business to conduct and a township to govern," she said, adding that the council spoke about an array of issues that night including snow plowing, a tree ordinance and backyard chicken ownership. "We have to do our jobs."

Councilwoman Karen Orgen agreed. "This was a stunt designed to disrupt," she said. "It took time away from people who want to speak and get work done. I'm all for First Amendment rights but there is right way to do things. Disrupting our council meeting and putting our police officers at risk is not okay."

A Teaneck police spokesman said Wednesday that it had been "quite some time since we have had to make an arrest at a council meeting."

The stun gun charge against Graham and obstruction charge against Kearney are both fourth degree charges, which are punishable by up to 18 months' imprisonment, the spokesman said.

Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering how the spiritual intersects with our daily lives, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: yellin@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Gaza protester arrested for disrupting Teaneck NJ council meeting