HOWELL TOWNSHIP COUNCIL TAKES VOCAL STAND AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM

Ignoring strong opposition to the matter, the Howell Township Council tonight unanimously took a vocal stand AGAINST anti-semitism.

The move came in the aftermath of an anti-semitic billboard having been placed on Route 9.

The billboard stated:

Stand with Humanity. Stand with Palestine. Paid for by Voice for Humanity Project.

The Council took a stand condenmning such anti-semitic sentiment in no uncertain terms and standing against hate in all of its manifestations by adopting the following resolution:

RESOLUTION 24-184 OPPOSING ANTISEMITISM IN ALL ITS FORMS

WHEREAS, the Township of Howell is committed to free and open inquiry and expression permissible under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and

WHEREAS, the ideas of different members of a community, even those ideas protected under the First Amendment, will sometimes conflict, and Governing Bodies cannot shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive; and

WHEREAS, there recently appeared on Route 9 in Howell a billboard with the words, “Stand with Humanity. Stand with Palestine. Paid for by Voice for Humanity Project”; and

WHEREAS, Voice for Humanity appears to be a New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation and according to its public website has a contact address of P.O. Box 163 Fairview, NJ 07022, and a contact phone number of (201) 551-9993; and

WHEREAS, the billboard structure is owned by the Lamar Advertising Company; and

WHEREAS, according to Lamar’s public website, the contact phone number for Lamar’s New York City-New Jersey billboard office is (212) 644-6147; and 

WHEREAS, the Township received numerous contacts from its residents expressing concern about the billboard, and about a potential anti-Semitic undertone; and

WHEREAS, in the presence of objectionable speech, even speech that is protected by the First Amendment, it can be appropriate for a Governing Body to make its feelings known, especially when, as here, there is concern being expressed by some residents; and

WHEREAS, since the massacre of innocent Israelis by Hamas, an Iran-backed terrorist organization, on October 7, 2023, anti-Semitic incidents of harassment, vandalism, and assault in the United States have spiked 388 percent over the same period last year, according to reports from the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Center on Extremism;

WHEREAS, acts of hate, intimidation, discrimination, and violence based on ethnicity or religion have no place in our country nor in the global community; and 

WHEREAS, to the extent the billboard in Howell is or could have been used as a rallying point for anti-Semitic thought, or as a battle cry against Jews in America or throughout the world, the Governing Body of the Township of Howell condemns such anti-Semitic sentiment in no uncertain terms and stands against hate in all of its manifestations.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Township of Howell in the County of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, as follows:

(1) It strongly condemns and denounces all instances of antisemitism occurring in the United States and globally; and

(2) It reaffirms and reiterates its strong support for the Jewish community at home and abroad; and

(3) It calls on elected officials and world leaders to condemn and fight all forms of domestic and global antisemitism; and

(4) It rejects all forms of terror, hate, discrimination, and harassment of members of the Jewish community.

 

It was a noisy meeting with numerous members of the public speaking up, both in strong support, and in fierce opposition to, the adoption of the resolution.

Council members emphasized that they oppose all hate, and that this resolution isn't "clueless thinking that they can end global wars," but rather it's the facing of reality that there is hate right here at home and that needs to be addressed.

"We have no authority to restrict constitutionally protected speech which is on any billboard. However we are voicing our condemnation of the hateful message on the billboard," the Council added.

Senator Robert Singer (R-30) and Assemblyman Sean Kean (R-30) released the following statements condemning the billboard:

“This blatant display of antisemitism right here in our own backyard is as disgusting as it is heartbreaking,” said Sen. Singer. “Perpetuating hate and violence towards Jewish people under the guise of ‘humanity’ only further propagates the misinformation we see all too often and will undoubtedly contribute to the unfortunate recent rise in anti-Semitic actions we’re seeing across the country. New Jerseyans deserve better than this and shame on the owners of the billboard that allowed this to run.”

“There is no place for these disgraceful acts of antisemitism -- not in New Jersey or anywhere else.” said Asm. Kean. “Any effort to promote this garbage is a slap in the face to the innocent people who have lost their lives at the hands of Hamas terrorists.”

The billboard has since been taken down. 

 

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