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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, September 14, 2009

NJ teens sue over ’God Bless America’ ejection


By BETH DeFALCO
Associated Press Writer

TRENTON, N.J. — Three teenagers who say they were tossed from a New Jersey ballpark for sitting through the song “God Bless America” are suing the minor league Newark Bears.

The boys say their constitutional rights were violated when they were asked to leave Newark’s Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium in June by Bear’s president co-owner Thomas Cetnar.
Cetnar confirms the boys were asked to leave but declined to elaborate.
The boys — Millburn High seniors Bryce Gadye (gah-DEE’) and Nilkumar (NIHL-koo-mahr) Patel, both 17, and junior Shaan (shahn) Mohammad Khan, 16 — sued in federal court Friday seeking unspecified damages.
They say when they told Cetnar they had the right to remain seated, he cursed and had two security officers remove them from their seats behind home plate.