Teaneck Re-invites Iraq War Veteran to Speak at Memorial Day After Criticism

The Teaneck Township Council reversed course and voted Tuesday to extend an invitation to an Iraq War veteran who was disinvited last month from speaking at the town’s Memorial Day ceremony after criticizing the governing body.

The 5-0 vote came following a packed public meeting where a string of residents and veterans lambasted the council for the decision to rescind the speaking invite first issued by the town’s Patriotic Observance Advisory Board to Jason Castle, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Teaneck resident. Township Manager William Broughton said at an April 23 council meeting that he nixed the invite because of Castle’s “negative interactions” with the town council, but insisted the decision was not politically motivated.

“We made a mistake,” said Deputy Mayor Adam Gussen, who defeated Castle in the Democratic congressional primary last year. “I do not make myself less for changing when where I was, was wrong.”

A resolution to invite Castle first backed by council members Lizette Parker and Henry Pruitt failed in an April 23 council vote. The approved measure adding Castle to the list of Memorial Day speakers was introduced Tuesday by Councilman Yitz Stern.

Castle said he was “honored” to accept the new invitation to join speakers at the May 27 ceremony.

“I’m glad that you proved me wrong and the council did the right thing,” Parker told council colleagues. “It shows that there is strength in numbers.”

Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin said the council made its decision after considering concerns from residents and community leaders. Residents have complained about political speeches at past Memorial Day ceremonies, he noted.

“This is something that’s a blip on the road for Teaneck and we can move on and be proud of who we are,” the mayor said.

Many residents who spoke before the council’s vote Tuesday night offered harsh criticism of how Castle was treated.

“To see this going on in the town that I live in, that I work in, that I love, that I represent, hurts me. It hurts my heart and it hurts the heart of all the people sitting here,” said Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, who attended the meeting.

Walt Nygard, a township resident and Vietnam veteran, said officials made a “twisted, misguided decision” in revoking Castle’s invite to speak.

“I think the council slapped a Marine Corps veteran in the face,” Robert Robinson, a Teaneck resident and former Marine, said. “It’s not about just Mr. Castle. It’s about a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps”

Patriotic Observance Advisory Board member Vincent Napolitano said the manager and majority of council brought "shame" on Teaneck. 

“The disrespect that was shown to a veteran who served in Iraq, it’s disgusting,” Napolitano said. 

Steven Goldstein, a resident and the founder of New Jersey's largest gay rights group, said residents moved to Teaneck not only to own homes but because of the town's history as a civil rights leader. Teaneck was first in the nation to voluntarily integrate its schools and first in the state to hold a same-sex civil union ceremony. 

"When you make a decision to un-invite Jason Castle you are bulldozing the dignity of each one of us,” Goldstein told council members.

"Because this town that prides itself on a history of diversity must understand this, there cannot be diversity of people without diversity of opinion," he said. 

The decision to withdraw Castle’s speaking invitation set off a wave of criticism from supporters who said the move was motivated by Castle’s rumored plan to run for a council seat next year and leadership in Teaneck 2020, a group often critical of the town administration. 

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First posted 3:10 a.m. Tuesday. Last updated 8 a.m. Wednesday