Pro-Palestine Billboard In Howell Condemned As Antisemitic By Legislators

HOWELL, NJ — A Pro-Palestine billboard on Route 9 in Howell has sparked complaints from residents and condemnation from local state legislators as a "blatant display of antisemitism" that perpetuates hate and violence toward Jewish people.

The billboard, which sits on the northbound side of Route 9 between West Farms Road and Casino Road, has been in place for a couple of weeks, Howell Police Chief John Storrow said. It is about 6 miles north of the border with Lakewood, where there is a large Orthodox Jewish population.

A petition on Change.org urges Howell Mayor Theresa Berger and the advertising company hosting the billboard, Lamar Advertising, to take it down.

"This isn't merely a political stance; it echoes Hamas propaganda against Israel," the person who created the petition wrote. "This message not only misleads but also conveniently overlooks the atrocities committed by Hamas, including kidnapping, rapes, the killing of infants, and murders against the civilian population of the Jewish state as well as using their own civilians as human shields."

"Having this billboard in our community promotes misinformation and anti-Semitic propaganda, which can incite hate crimes against our Jewish neighbors," the petitioner wrote. "While we respect every citizen's right to their opinion and free speech, public spaces should never serve as platforms for spreading hatred and dangerous misinformation."

The billboard was paid for by the Voice for Humanity Project, which describes itself on Instagram as a "Palestinian-led nonprofit dedicated to amplifying unheard voices, driving transformative change, and urgently addressing humanitarian needs."

"We are a group of tax-paying Americans inspired by the recent atrocities in Gaza, Palestine, who stand united for equality, justice, and peace for all mankind," the website says. "Committed to the triumph of humanity, our vision is a society where fairness, justice, and lasting peace prevail, inspiring positive change globally through factual knowledge and education."

A message left for Lamar Advertising was not immediately answered.

State Sen. Robert Singer and Assemblyman Sean Kean of the 12th District, which includes Howell and Lakewood condemned the billboard.

"This blatant display of antisemitism right here in our own backyard is as disgusting as it is heartbreaking," Singer said. "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," he said.

"There is no place for these disgraceful acts of antisemitism — not in New Jersey or anywhere else," Kean said. "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."