A group of exhibitors, including AMC, Cinemark and Regal, have filed a lawsuit against the governor of New Jersey.
The companies, led by the National Association of Theatre Owners, is challenging Governor Phil Murphy’s order that allows malls, libraries, churches and museums to reopen but keeps cinemas and other entertainment venues closed.
The exhibitors are claiming a First Amendment right to reopen during the pandemic and the lawsuit states: “Plaintiffs bring this action to ensure that movie theatre are treated equally with other similarly situated places of public assembly, and in order to exercise their First Amendment rights to exhibit films of significant artistic, cultural, political and popular merit.”
Cinemas have been designated for reopening under Stage 3 of the state’s protocols – the state only entered Stage 2 on June 15th. New Jersey is one of a handful of states that have not already allowed theaters to reopen or set a timeline that would allow them to do so by the end of July.
Source: Variety
