NAACP, Other NJ Orgs. Denounce Proud Boys & Hope Elected Leaders Do The Same

This is a statement regarding the Proud Boys and their attendance at Woodbridge, NJ Council meeting with nary a peep from the Council.

NAACP Perth Amboy Area Branch

February 23, 2022

We, the undersigned organizations, unequivocally denounce the Proud Boys, and condemn their hateful public comments made at the December 14, 2021 Woodbridge Township, NJ Council Meeting. We call for the elected and appointed officials of Woodbridge Township to join us in standing against this designated terrorist hate group.

While it was encouraging to learn that two members of the Woodbridge Human Rights Commission had the conscience and courage to publicly denounce the Proud Boys on the record at their February 7, 2022 HRC Meeting, it was discouraging to learn that the Proud Boys showed up in even larger numbers to the February 15th Woodbridge Council Meeting, and that they were yet again welcomed by certain residents in attendance. One self-identified member of the Proud Boys again spoke anonymously during public comments, wearing a Proud Boys “POW J6 2021 You Are Not Forgotten” shirt, disgracefully comparing those rightfully arrested for the deadly January 6th Capitol Insurrection to our nation’s military prisoners of war missing in action.

As expressed by the Chair of the Woodbridge Human Rights Commission, the Proud Boys’ involvement in the January 6th Insurrection alone should be enough to denounce them. Combined with the fact that the Proud Boys have been designated a hate group by both the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and also classified as a terrorist entity by the Canadian government, a refusal by community leaders to denounce them would be immoral, irresponsible, and inexcusable.

And as the students of the Woodbridge Township School District recite in their Anti-Racism Pledge: “I pledge to honor and embrace diversity and to stand against racism wherever it appears.” Our elected and appointed officials must be held to the same standard that we hold our children, and stand against this hateful attack on Woodbridge.

We call on Woodbridge leaders to follow the example of other communities targeted by the Proud Boys (such as Rockville Centre, NY and the Orange County Schools district, NC) that had the conscience and courage to denounce this defined terrorist hate group, and make it clear that they are not welcome- that hate has no home in Woodbridge Township.

Sincerely,

NAACP Perth Amboy Area Branch

Woodbridge Youth for Liberation and Equity (WYLE)

Positive Change Woodbridge

NAACP Rahway Branch

NAACP of Southern Burlington County

NAACP – New Brunswick Area Branch

NAACP Metuchen Edison Area Branch

Black Community Watchline

NJ21United

NOTE: In response to this statement, Mayor John McCormac released the following statement:

“The Township of Woodbridge denounces hatred in all forms and in all venues. It goes without saying that hate has no place in Woodbridge.”

At last week’s Town Council meeting, a Proud Boy who identified himself as “Steve” stated, “This is the last time you’re going to see the Proud Boys,” and was met with thanks from Woodbridge resident Tom Maras who has supported the neo-fascist group whenever they appeared at school board and town council meetings.