Clark Mayor's 'Racist Remarks' Condemned By Union County Commissioners

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Union County Commissioners have joined several other local officials in their condemnation of the "racist and sexist remarks" said by Clark's mayor and Public Safety Officials.

In a statement released by the county on Friday, Commissioners said they stand with local leaders who are calling for the resignation of Mayor Sal Bonaccorso and the top-ranking police officials who were secretly recorded using offensive language.

An investigation published by NJ.com last week revealed that two years ago, a whistleblower recorded a conversation between the town officials in which they referred to Black people as "shines," "spooks" and the N-word.

According to NJ.com, Clark officials agreed to pay the whistleblower $400K to avoid a public lawsuit.

Read more: Clark Officials Paid $400K To Hide Racial Slurs Said By Mayor: Report

"We must remind the residents of Union County that this is not us – we stand against the remarks of the Mayor and some Public Safety Officials in Clark and we stand with the people of the community who are calling for their immediate resignation, as their racist and sexist remarks clearly illustrate that they are unfit to lead," the Commissioners wrote in their statement.

"We stand with the community, which is equally outraged and we continue to be committed to the work that makes us unified."

Back in July of 2020, the Union County Prosecutor's Office took over Clark's Police Department after "misconduct allegations" came out from top officials of the department.

Read more: Prosecutor Takes Over Clark Police After Misconduct Allegations

The Commissioners stated that along with every elected official in our County, they are "voted in to work for all people – no matter what ethnicity, skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or creed."

"As a Commissioner Board, we will continue to strive to change the structures of inequality and we will continue to be active and vigilant in our work. We ask that all of our residents join in with us on the fight against discrimination. We will not tolerate the hate or racial division – there is no place in Union County for this behavior,” they stated.

Read the full statement on the County of Union's Facebook page.