Legislators Denounce Bigotry, Encourage United Front Against Hatred
Senator Richard J. Codey and Assembly Democrats John F. McKeon and Mila Jasey (D-Morris/Essex) issued the following statement Tuesday in response to bomb threats that forced evacuations at several Jewish schools and community centers, including the Katz JCC in Cherry Hill, on Monday:
“The recent spike in bomb threats at Jewish Community Centers (JCCs), along with the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, amount to nothing less than an attack on every American and every religion of the world. These incidents, coupled with the recent shootings of Indian-Americans in Kansas and many other notable hate crimes, are signs that this is a time for every American, especially those in a position of power, to speak up loud and clear against such actions.
“The JCC MetroWest in West Orange, right in our community, faced a bomb threat recently. The response we saw was the essence of humanity: the Christian church nearby offered refuge to the children of the JCC’s pre-school so they did not have to stand out in the cold rain as the building was being secured. These types of selfless actions of humanity should give all of us hope that the radical and disgusting actions of the very few will do nothing more than bring us all closer together.”