Home > Legal Docket > State v. Bessey

Burlington Municipal Court/Direct

William Buckman, Esq.

This case arises out of one of our prior cases, Bird Paradise v. N.Y. Bird Club, in which we helped secure a permit for animal rights activists protesting a bird store. During the protest, Marianne Bessey was participating in and videotaping the activities. The owner of the bird store walked up to Bessey and told her to stop filming her. The owner then walked away from the protesters but continued to watch them. A few moments later, the owner started marching up to Bessey, yelling that she crossed over the line of demarcation (between the right-of-way and the store's property), and pushed the camera into Bessey's face, cutting her nose and causing it to bleed. Another protester contacted the police, who ended up issuing a summons to the owner for simple assault. The owner, however, then filed harassment, trespassing, and assault charges against Bessey. The ACLU-NJ is representing Bessey against those charges.