List Of Monmouth County Pro-Trump Businesses Deleted Amid Controversy

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Last weekend, some Monmouth County residents created a list of local businesses where the owners or management support President-elect Donald Trump, so residents can avoid shopping at those businesses.

The list, which was originally drafted as a public spreadsheet and shared, has since been deleted, said state Sen. Vin Gopal, a Democrat who represents the Eatontown-Ocean Township area.

The discussion started last weekend on a Facebook group called Indivisible Blue Two Rivers, which has now been deleted. A discussion thread was started that began "MAGA local businesses to avoid," according to screenshots from the page. Residents said they wanted to know which Monmouth County businesses support Trump or "blast FOX or alt-right radio."

The Monmouth County Republican Party released a Facebook statement Tuesday, decrying the creation of such a list.

"We are better than this," said state Sen. Declan O'Scanlon, a moderate Republican from Little Silver. "I strongly condemn these divisive efforts to damage the livelihoods of Monmouth County small-business owners over political differences. I’m proud to patronize all local businesses, regardless of who they vote for, because I want them to succeed."

"Similar groups in Atlantic Highlands, Marlboro, Spring Lake and Monmouth Beach have also formed in an effort to demonize businesses they allege are pro-Trump," said the Monmouth GOP.

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, who is chair of the Monmouth Republican Party, and County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone, also a Republican, said in that statement they will patronize "all businesses in Monmouth regardless of who they support in the political arena."

"There is no room for such political divisiveness after an election," said Arnone. "This is a horrible thing to do to our amazing business community."

A majority of Monmouth County voted for Trump in the Nov. 5 presidential election. However, Gopal is one of Monmouth's best-known Democratic lawmakers and he also criticized the list. The group also made a separate list of businesses that did not support Trump, he said, with members saying they would shop at those businesses.

Both lists are now deleted, he said.

"The group was wrong, and I appreciate that they immediately deleted the lists and shut down the group," said Gopal, referring to the Indivisible Blue Two Rivers Facebook group.

According to Gopal, other people, presumably Trump supporters, also took screenshots of comments made on the Indivisible Blue Two Rivers Facebook group. Gopal said this led to neighbors harassing neighbors, and police reports have been filed.

"This is leading to police reports being filed and neighbors being pitted against neighbors," he said. "Two wrongs don't make a right — those group of residents deleted the list and removed the page ... Elections leave tough feelings —but lets come together, both sides, give folks the benefit of the doubt when they make mistakes, and try to unify our communities."

"Some of my dearest friends are Democrats," said O'Scanlon, the Republican. "Why have these friendships endured? It’s not rocket science: We meet each other where we are, will and hope the best for each other, and see each other as human beings with dignity."