Acts Of Hate In Westfield To Be Discussed At Community Event

WESTFIELD, NJ — In recent years, Westfield has seen a variety of hateful acts within the community — from swastikas etched in Mindowaskin Park to racial slurs carved into the stalls of the high school bathroom.

Next week, Westfield will hold a community discussion, called Disrupt Hate – Working Toward an Inclusive Westfield, to reflect on some of these acts of hate and examine ways in which the community can work toward creating a more inclusive town. The event on Thursday, Feb. 3 is hosted by Westfied's Human Relations Advisory Commission in collaboration with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Westfield.

It will take place in person in the Westfield High School Auditorium at 55 Dorian Road from 7 p.m. to 9p.m. Participants will also have the option to attend virtually. All in-person attendees should be vaccinated and wear a mask.

It was Alexis Jemal — the outgoing Chair of Human Relations Advisory Commission and current member of the MLK Association – who came up with the idea to hold a discussion. She said the event is follow-up on a community discussion held by the MLK Association back in 2016.

But whereas the 2016 discussion centered around issues of racism more generally, Jemal said this year's discussion will focus more on recent incidents of hate and discrimination in Westfield.

"It's focused on the community because I think that there's this disconnect," Jemal said. }[When] things happen outside of Westfield, [people say] well, that's out there. And when it happens in Westfield, it's like, 'well I'm not the one doing it.'"

Jemal said there is a lack of accountability from people in the town. Just because someone is not directly affected by an act of hate, she said there is no excuse for people to remain silent about these issues.

Jemal referred to the anti-Semitic graffiti that was found in Mindowaskin Park right before the Jewish high holidays in September, as well as the swastika that was drawn at Westfield High School in March.

She also mentioned there has been talk of racism and hate speech in the town. She referred to the incident back in March when Mayor Shelley Brindle notified the community of two local Asian-American families who were targets of "bigoted rhetoric."

Jemal added that she heard some churches in Westfield have received threatening mail and that a lot of incidents happen to people more privately that the public may not know about.

Thursday's discussion will consist of a panel of speakers who will lead the conversation and answer questions that audience members send ahead of time.

Featured speakers at the event will include Westfield Chief of Police Christopher Battiloro, Dr. Pamela Brug of the MLK Association of Westfield, Superintendent of Westfield Schools Dr. Raymond González, Former President of the Metro NJ Chapter of the American Jewish Committee Edward Israelow, Senior Pastor of The Presbyterian Church in Westfield Rev. Jeremy Jinkins, Westfield High School social studies and humanities teacher Kim Leegan and Westfield School District Director of Counseling Services Maureen Mazzarese.

When people register for the event at this link, they can also submit questions they would like the panel to answer.

The discussion on Thursday is just the beginning, according to Jemal, and she plans to continue holding these types of community discussions beyond this point.

"I hope this is not the end-all-be-all, and this should help to break us into having these conversations because a lot of times we are in denial that this stuff happens here," Jemal said.

Preregistration is strongly encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

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