NEW MILFORD, NJ — At a time when hate crimes and bias incidents continue to fracture communities across the nation, New Milford is taking a stand. On Wednesday, May 20 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the New Milford High School, local leaders will host a first-of-its-kind Anti-Bias Symposium, “Together We Stand.” The roundtable discussion will bring together law enforcement officials, faith leaders, educators, advocates, and community leaders to educate, unite, and empower residents to recognize and respond to bias in all its forms. The program will also be live-streamed via the New Milford School District’s YouTube Channel.

“Bias incidents don’t just harm individuals—they diminish the trust, safety and connections that hold communities together,” said New Milford Council President Matthew Seymour, who organized and will moderate the session. “This Symposium offers a unique opportunity to learn from experts on the front lines, hear directly from people most affected, and leave with actionable tools to make a difference,” Seymour said. Seymour previously created a Domestic Violence Awareness Symposium that has now run for 7 years in New Milford. The success of that initiative, recognized by the New Jersey Judiciary, inspired him to develop an expert roundtable on hate crimes and bias incidents.

According to the United States Department of Justice, there were 11,679 hate crime incidents involving 14,243 victims in calendar year 2024 alone. [https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/hate-crime-statistics]. “Our goals is to unite New Milford and all of Bergen County against hate and bias in all of its forms,” Seymour said. “Together we can raise awareness of the dangers that hate and bias pose in our communities.”

The Symposium will feature an extraordinary lineup of panelists, including:

· Vered Adoni, Assistant Prosecutor, Chief, Domestic Violence and Anti-Bias Crime Units, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

· Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Sheriff.

· Lieutenant Scott Petrie, New Milford Police Department.

· Tim Torell Sr., Director of Jewish Community Security for the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and former Detective Captain First Grade from the Englewood Police Department.

· Detective Sergeant Ehtasham Z. Chaudhry, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Operations Bureau.

· Dr. Joan Rivitz, New Jersey Civil Rights Commissioner.

· Avi Posnick, Executive Director, StandWithUs Northeast and New England.

· Anthony Torres, Founder and Executive Director of Bergen County LGBTQ+ Alliance.

· Brandi Katz Rubin, Deputy Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League, New York/New Jersey Region.

· David L. D'Amico, Chief Investigator, Middlesex County Department of Corrections and Youth Services.

· Peter Ahn, Lead Pastor, Metro Community Church, Englewood.

· Hannah Hashash, New Milford Borough Local Community Leader.

The Symposium will cover critical topics including:

· What constitutes hate crimes and bias incidents under the law.

· How to report incidents and access federal and state legal protections.

· The role of bystanders in preventing and responding to bias.

· How to build and strengthen coalitions among people of all faiths, races, religions, ethnicities, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, and disabilities.

· Practical tools for fostering inclusion in schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

“New Milford is more than just a community, we are a family,” said New Milford Mayor Michael Putrino. “By working together with our School District and Police Department, along with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, and many other local and state agencies, we can build meaningful bridges that connect our diverse cultures, faiths, and backgrounds.”

"With a long-standing tradition of embracing diversity, we are proud to host the first Anti-Bias Symposium," said Peter Galasso, New Milford Superintendent of Schools "By fostering inclusivity and equity regardless of race, expression, disability, or faith, we continue to build a community where every family is represented and every voice is valued."

"Hosting an Anti-Bias Symposium is essential to fostering an informed society," said panelist Vered Adoni, Assistant Prosecutor and Chief of the Domestic Violence and Bias Crimes Units in the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. "It equips the public with the awareness and tools needed to recognize and report suspected bias incidents."

Another panelist, Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton noted, "Our peaceful existence depends on eradicating anti-bias attitudes. Dismantling them begins with the understanding that unfair treatment affects more than just the victims; it impacts families, communities, and society as a whole."

Dr. Joan Rivitz, the longest-serving Civil Rights Commissioner in New Jersey State history, will also join the panel. "The undercurrents of all forms of prejudice keep bubbling to the surface,” she said. “The task of combating these prejudices needs the participation of every member of our society to work together to help make our communities safe and prejudice-free.” New Jersey, she added, is fortunate to have the Law Against Discrimination (LAD), the oldest civil rights legislation in the nation. “I am proud to have the LAD available to help in my quest to keep to the motto of, ‘No Hate In This Great State’,” she said.

"Safety and inclusion go hand in hand," said fellow panelist Tim Torell Sr., Director of Jewish Community Security for the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and former Detective Captain with the Englewood Police Department. "When communities are informed about the realities of bias and hate, and work collaboratively with leaders and law enforcement, they build stronger, more resilient environments where everyone can feel secure and supported," he said.

Event Details:

What: Together We Stand: New Milford Anti-Bias Symposium
When: Wednesday, May 20, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: New Milford High School Auditorium – 330 River Road, New Milford, NJ 07646

For More Information, Please Contact:

Matthew S. Seymour, New Milford Council President mseymour@newmilfordnj.gov