LONG BEACH ISLAND – A copyrighted photograph depicting a group of handmaids visiting Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s summer home has been widely circulated without proper credit to Jersey Shore Online. It also contains misinformation about the timing of the event.
Contrary to recent claims, the protest did not occur this past weekend but on May 14, 2022.
Renewed interest in Justice Alito’s Long Beach Island residence emerged following reports that a controversial “Appeal to Heaven” flag, associated with insurrectionists, was on display. However, Alito’s residence was not photographed, and its address was not released in conjunction with the 2022 article in this newspaper.
His address which appeared in public records on May 14, 2022 was redacted soon after protesters peacefully passed by Alito’s house. Every house on his small street no longer appears in records maintained by the Ocean County Clerk’s office.
This was done in accordance with Daniel’s Law, which protects the addresses of judges and law enforcement personnel. This law was enacted following the shooting death of Daniel Anderl, the son of Judge Esther Salas. It emphasizes the need to safeguard the personal information of judicial figures and others, as well as their families.
The Southern Ocean Times has received numerous inquiries about Alito’s address and future protests but remains committed to not disclosing this information.
The Handmaids Upcoming Protest
The group of protesters, dressed in symbolic attire from Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” chose that stormy day in May 2022 to peacefully walk past Justice Alito’s Long Beach Island residence with purpose.
The demonstrators’ choice of attire and silent protest were deliberate, aiming to evoke imagery of subjugation and loss of rights. It was then motivated by the leaked draft opinion written by Justice Alito that would subsequently reverse Roe v. Wade as federal law.
Some of the handmaids chose to hide their identities for fear of retribution by their employers or associates. Their silent demonstration, marked by a two-and-a-half-minute play of an updated version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sounds of Silence,” was a statement on their fears of societal regression regarding women’s rights.
The concerns expressed by the handmaids materialized on June 24, 2022, when the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade, transferring the authority to regulate abortion laws to individual states. This landmark decision has led to abortion services in some states being either severely restricted or entirely unavailable, sparking widespread concern and activism.
Many of the original handmaids have continued to express a desire for anonymity – however their commitment to women’s rights has not faltered. Their voices will be part of a broader audience in the upcoming weeks.
Rather than returning to Justice Alito’s residence, the handmaids will join a protest marking the second year of the controversial Dobbs decision. Organized by the Ocean County National Organization for Women, the event is scheduled at Huddy Park in Toms River on June 24 from 5-7 p.m. All are invited to join the public protest.
