The Rumson, New Jersey Police Department responded to a call on Saturday night about a large group of people breaking the state’s coronavirus lockdown order by attending a Pink Floyd tribute concert on the front lawn of a local man’s home.
In a post to Facebook, the police department described a scene of roughly 30 adults between the ages of 40-50 “on the front lawn attending an acoustic concert of Pink Floyd’s greatest hits.” The report claimed that two guitarists performed with amplifiers and microphones and broadcasted the concert to Facebook. Police then allege that when patrols attempted to break up the gathering, citing New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy‘s coronavirus related executive orders, concert-goers launched expletives at them, evoking an iconic N.W.A. phrase and comparing the situation to “Nazi Germany.”
“The band still played on, that is until they were advised in the middle of the 1975 classic ‘Wish you were here’, that they must stop the show,” the police statement continued. As NJ.com reported on Sunday, Rumson Police charged one of the musicians, John Maldijan, in connection with the event, as confirmed by the state Attorney General’s Office.
The charges fall in line with Governor Murphy’s stance on the subject, as he has said multiple times—including in a March 28th tweet— that “Corona parties” are “illegal, dangerous, and stupid.” The tweet continued, “We will crash your party. You will pay a big fine. And we will name & shame you until EVERYONE gets this message into their heads.”
Can’t believe I have to say this at all, let alone for the second time. But here we are.
NO CORONA PARTIES. They’re illegal, dangerous, and stupid.
We will crash your party. You will pay a big fine. And we will name & shame you until EVERYONE gets this message into their heads.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 28, 2020
Read the entire statement by the Borough of Rumson Police Department below.