Breaking News
Brian Stack’s Using the Police to Go After Memes: Charges Dismissed
It seems Union City Mayor and State Senator Brian Stack has once again demonstrated his well-known intolerance for criticism — this time by filing cyber harassment charges against investigative journalist Leroy Filipowski, known to many as “Leroy Truth.” The so-called “offense”? Publicly calling Stack a corrupt politician, making memes, and posting satirical criticism online.
If this sounds absurd, that’s because it is. The narrative in the police report reads like political fan fiction — dripping with bias, packed with subjective conclusions, and signed off by none other than Lieutenant Glenn Gaston, “Mr. Brady List” himself, who is the last person on Earth who should be signing off on anything related to credibility or reputation.
The report’s author, Detective Valladares, goes so far as to describe the journalist’s allegations against Stack as “unsupported.” That is not only laughable, it’s an outright abuse of position. As a detective, Valladares is well beyond her legal authority — and her professional capabilities — to make a blanket declaration that allegations are unsupported when multiple journalists, activists, and critics have already produced documented evidence, court records, and first-hand accounts of Stack’s questionable conduct going back years.
Even more ridiculous is the fact that this report frames Leroy’s appearance at City Hall and other public venues as some sort of “harassment” — when in reality, these are public places where elected officials are required to face public scrutiny. The mere act of telling an elected official to resign, whether loudly or repeatedly, is political speech at the core of First Amendment protections. The fact that Union City law enforcement appears unable to distinguish between harassment and constitutionally protected public criticism should alarm every citizen. It also raises serious questions about just how low the educational and constitutional literacy requirements are for becoming a police officer in the state of NJ.
Stack and Valladares should be reminded of landmark case law that has long protected exactly this kind of speech:
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964) — Established that public officials cannot recover damages for defamation unless they prove “actual malice,” a high standard meant to ensure robust debate on public issues.
Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (1988) — Held that parody and satire of public figures, even if offensive, are protected speech under the First Amendment.
Terminiello v. Chicago, 337 U.S. 1 (1949) — Affirmed that speech cannot be punished simply because it stirs anger or unrest; in fact, that is often its purpose in a free society.
Snyder v. Phelps, 562 U.S. 443 (2011) — Upheld the right to engage in hurtful, outrageous, or controversial speech in public forums when addressing matters of public concern.
In other words, political satire, memes, and verbal criticism of elected officials — even aggressive or mocking criticism — are all constitutionally protected activities. The U.S. Supreme Court has been crystal clear for decades: public officials are bound to endure public criticism as part of their position. That includes when they are officiating weddings, conducting city business, or otherwise exercising their official authority.
Brian Stack’s reputation problems didn’t start with Leroy Truth showing up in Union City. Far from it. Stack has a long history of controversy, troubling incidents, and community criticism that have eroded public trust for decades. The idea that a few internet memes or YouTube videos are what’s “ruining” his reputation or “questioning Stack’s integrity” is beyond comical — it’s delusional. Stack has done more than enough damage to his own image without Leroy ever lifting a finger.
Even the supposed “harassment” described in the report amounts to public speech in public spaces — a cornerstone of American democracy. Showing up at city buildings, attending public meetings, and asking hard questions is called holding public officials accountable. That’s not harassment — it’s exactly what’s supposed to happen in a free society. The fact that Stack is running to the police to criminalize satire and criticism speaks volumes about his inability to tolerate dissent.
The cherry on top? The approving officer is Lieutenant Glenn Gaston, whose own name appears on the Brady List — a public record for officers with credibility issues. The irony here could power the city’s streetlights for a year. If there’s anyone in Union City government who should be the last to speak about “tarnished reputations,” it’s Gaston.
Let’s be crystal clear: the First Amendment protects exactly the type of speech Stack is trying to silence. Political satire, memes, and harsh public commentary are not crimes. If Brian Stack can’t handle being called corrupt or seeing his face in a meme, then maybe the problem isn’t the journalist — maybe it’s the man in the mirror.
Instead of using taxpayer-funded law enforcement resources to chase down critics, perhaps Mayor/Senator Stack should focus on addressing the very real issues that have been dragging his name through the mud for decades. Until then, these politically motivated police reports will stand as nothing more than monuments to thin skin and abuse of power.
And now, in a twist of poetic justice, as of today those very charges filed against Leroy Truth have been DISMISSED by the Newark Municipal Court — a fitting end to a case that never should have existed in the first place.
