Thousands of NJ police officers, firefighters protest

Armed with picket signs and union banners, more than 6,500 police and firefighters descended on the Statehouse Thursday with a message for Gov. Chris Christie: We are not the enemy. The rally was the second in two weeks to draw thousands of unionized workers to the governor's doorstep. Police and firefighters said they've been hamstrung by layoffs in the last year, and warned they would retaliate on election day if the government cut into their benefits and pensions outside the bargaining table. "If they're not with us they're against us, and kick them out of office," said Anthony Wieners, president of the State Policemen's Benevolents Association. "Enough is enough!" Union leaders and Democratic lawmakers took turns blasting Christie, saying public safety workers are being unfairly blamed for problems caused by bankers and CEOs. They accused the governor of compromising the state's safety and selling out its first responders in a bid for the White House.