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Reuters
The BLM protests have taken place in the US.
A teenager who organized a peaceful Black Lives Matter rally in the US state of New Jersey was asked to pay nearly $ 2,500 (£ 1,900) in police overtime costs, US media report.
Emily Gil, 18, said she organized the action to support protests against racism in the United States and highlight problems with affordable housing in her community.
But he was surprised to later receive a bill from the local mayor.
The mayor told the BBC’s partner CBS that he was now dropping the charges.
Ms. Gil said the peaceful protest in the Englewood Cliffs district on July 25 lasted about 90 minutes and was only attended by 30 to 40 people.
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She said she did not know the event would incur charges until she received a letter demanding payment days later.
“I was surprised when I read that I had to pay to exercise my First Amendment right,” he told CBS.
Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac said the township had the right to charge for police services at private events.
“We always bill … the bike race or the foot race or any other event, where our police are used, including utility work, people pay overtime,” he told CBS.
He later said, however, that he was repealing the bill, adding that he wanted to “make sure everyone’s constitutional rights are fully respected.”
He said he had no problem with the protest and is working to combat the problems with affordable housing.
