Production on “Pawn Shop,” a film distributed through Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire banner, resumed after being temporarily halted by the Livingston City Commission. The film centers on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer navigating conflict during civil unrest.
The Livingston City Commission voted to suspend the production permit during a Saturday meeting following complaints from residents and local officials. Community members raised concerns about the production’s effects on the Livingston food bank and inadequate safety warnings regarding stunt work. The commission authorized a temporary suspension while the city attorney reviewed options to amend, suspend, or revoke the permit.
Shapiro responded to the suspension with a statement asserting that the decision reflected political motivation rather than legitimate regulatory concerns. He characterized the city’s action as content-based discrimination, arguing that officials would have permitted filming of other narrative types such as romantic comedies or holiday-themed productions. Shapiro stated the suspension violated First Amendment protections and claimed the decision contradicted constitutional principles.
Permits were reinstated following a meeting with city officials on Monday. The film features an ensemble cast including Danny Trejo, Harvey Keitel, Henry Thomas, and others, with Michael Polish serving as director. According to the official synopsis, the narrative follows a young ICE officer forced to complete a dangerous arrest alone after his partner’s death, subsequently barricaded in a pawn shop while confronting escalating mob violence.
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