New Jersey Declares State of Emergency Following Wildwood Civil Unrest>

New Jersey officials declared an overnight state of emergency early Monday following a weekend of civil unrest along the Wildwood boardwalk near the state’s southern tip. The boardwalk was reopened by 6 a.m. on Monday after authorities addressed numerous incidents and ensured public safety. The Wildwood Police Department reported an overwhelming number of calls for service on Saturday night due to a large influx of young adults and juveniles for Memorial Day weekend. The high volume of calls left some areas in Cape May County without adequate police response. The state of emergency was declared just after midnight on Monday as conditions deteriorated despite efforts from local and mutual aid law enforcement agencies. Specific activities causing the unrest were unclear, but proactive measures had been taken in anticipation of large crowds. A 15-year-old boy was stabbed on Saturday night, an incident reportedly unrelated to the state of emergency. Authorities refrained from further comments out of respect for Memorial Day. Last year, similar issues with popup parties were reported, and Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland had previously warned that unsanctioned events would face strict legal consequences.