{"id":7666,"date":"2020-05-25T16:28:34","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T20:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/?p=7666"},"modified":"2020-05-25T16:50:44","modified_gmt":"2020-05-25T20:50:44","slug":"reopen-nj-rally-draws-over-1000-protesters-to-point-pleasant-beach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/2020\/05\/reopen-nj-rally-draws-over-1000-protesters-to-point-pleasant-beach\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; Rally Draws Over 1,000 Protesters to Point Pleasant Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"v-1vdmTiok-1\" class=\"video-player\"><iframe title='VideoPress Video Player' aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='1000' height='562' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/1vdmTiok?hd=1&amp;cover=1&amp;loop=0&amp;autoPlay=0&amp;permalink=1&amp;muted=0&amp;controls=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;useAverageColor=0&amp;preloadContent=metadata' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen data-resize-to-parent=\"true\" allow='clipboard-write; presentation'><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Across the street from a barricaded Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk, a crowd that organizers said broke 1,000 participants gathered to call on Gov. Phil Murphy and other state officials to reopen the state&#8217;s businesses and public spaces.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7670\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7670\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7670\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-1024x641.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-1024x641.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-1536x962.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-2048x1282.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-671x420.jpg 671w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-640x401.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-681x426.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7670\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7673\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_102-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7673\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7673\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_102-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_102-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_102-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_102-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_102-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_102-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_102-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_102-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_102-681x454.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7673\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The rally drew a mix of business owners, Republicans, libertarian-minded Democrats and candidates for various political offices around the state. It also featured Ian Smith and Kyle Newell, co-owers of the Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, who drew national attention after they reopened their business against Murphy&#8217;s lockdown order. Officials who spoke ranged from Democratic State Assemblyman Jamel Holley to Republican Senator Michael Testa, who is representing a number of Cape May County business owners in a lawsuit against the governor. Few attendees besides members of the press wore masks during the event.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My office has responded to over 1,000 individuals who are still waiting for their unemployment benefits that they paid into and they deserve,&#8221; Testa said. &#8220;People have called me on the brink of a mental breakdown and on the brink of suicide. This is how sad it is.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Murphy said in a television interview with CNN Monday that he didn&#8217;t &#8220;begrudge&#8221; citizens&#8217; right to protest, &#8220;but they don&#8217;t sway me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Murphy, whose executive orders make up the bulk of the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, was the object of the most derision.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7668\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_097-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-2\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7668\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7668\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_097-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_097-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_097-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_097-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_097-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_097-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_097-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_097-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_097-681x454.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7668\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7667\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_096-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-3\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7667\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7667\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_096-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_096-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_096-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_096-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_096-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_096-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_096-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_096-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_096-681x454.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7667\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7676\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_105-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-4\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7676\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7676\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_105-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_105-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_105-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_105-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_105-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_105-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_105-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_105-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_105-681x454.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7676\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;We\u2019re already the most-taxed state in the union, we already have the greatest out-migration of any state in the United States of America, and people wonder why,&#8221; said Testa.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Murphy!&#8221; a member of the crowd shouted.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Absolutely,&#8221; Testa replied.<\/p>\n<p>Kevin Jenkins of the Urban Global Health Alliance said he flew to New Jersey to speak at the rally.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;To come here today and see this, it gives me hope,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We should be angry as hell. This is war and we should be fighting back.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The rally also featured podcast star and North Jersey gun range owner Anthony Colandro.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My place is much safer than any corporate-recipient welfare big-box store,&#8221; said Colandro, who serves as a National Rifle Association board member. &#8220;We have individual stalls and the best air-handler system money can buy. Why are we still closed? Because the crown of New Jersey is anti-gun.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7679\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_108-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-5\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7679\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7679\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_108-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_108-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_108-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_108-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_108-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_108-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_108-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_108-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_108-681x454.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7679\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7678\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_107-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-6\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7678\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7678\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_107-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_107-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_107-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_107-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_107-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_107-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_107-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_107-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_107-681x454.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7678\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7677\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_106-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-7\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7677\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7677\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_106-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_106-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_106-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_106-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_106-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_106-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_106-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_106-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_106-681x454.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7677\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The crowd was filled with a mix of Shore locals and those who came from out of town to call for New Jersey&#8217;s reopening. At one point, a &#8220;Lock Him Up&#8221; chant began, aimed at the governor. The crows also chanted &#8220;USA! USA!&#8221; and numerous other demands in unison.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I don\u2019t think that Governor Murphy has the right to shut down everybody. People are starving, people are committing suicide,&#8221; said Jenna Gallichia of Bedminster. &#8220;He\u2019s not trying to take care of everybody, he\u2019s taking care of who he thinks is important, which is him and whoever he decides. I\u2019m not a Republican and I\u2019m not a Democrat. We live in America, we have a constitution, and our rights are being utterly pushed aside.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7671\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-8\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7671\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7671\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-280x420.jpg 280w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-640x960.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-681x1022.jpg 681w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_100-scaled.jpg 1706w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7671\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7674\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_103-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-9\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7674\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7674\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_103-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_103-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_103-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_103-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_103-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_103-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_103-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_103-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_103-681x454.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7674\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7672\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_101-scaled.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-10\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"A &#039;Reopen NJ&#039; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7672\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7672\" src=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_101-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A 'Reopen NJ' rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_101-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_101-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_101-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_101-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_101-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_101-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_101-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_101-681x454.jpg 681w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7672\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A &#8216;Reopen NJ&#8217; rally is held in Point Pleasant Beach, May 25, 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;If Murphy told us to jump off a bridge, are we all going to jump?&#8221; rhetorically asked Janet Murphy of Suthampton, making sure to add her familiar last name was just a coincidence. &#8220;People need to stand up and stop living in fear.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fcbkbttn_buttons_block\" id=\"fcbkbttn_left\"><div class=\"fb-share-button fcbkbttn_large_button \" data-href=\"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/2020\/05\/reopen-nj-rally-draws-over-1000-protesters-to-point-pleasant-beach\/\" data-type=\"button_count\" data-size=\"large\"><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Across the street from a barricaded Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk, a crowd that organizers said broke 1,000 participants gathered to call on Gov. Phil Murphy and other state officials to reopen the state&#8217;s businesses and public spaces. The rally drew a mix of business owners, Republicans, libertarian-minded Democrats and candidates for various political offices around [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7670,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[18,15],"tags":[1672,376,1705,1704],"class_list":["post-7666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-ocean-county","tag-coronavirus","tag-point-pleasant-beach","tag-rally","tag-reopen-nj"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/reopen_nj_rally_point_pleasant_beach_coronavirus_covid_19_099-scaled.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgsn9q-1ZE","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7666"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7666\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/lavallette-seaside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}