Statement of Jersey City Education Association President Ronnie Greco:

“I have read the comments by Jersey City Board of Education member Joan Terrell and I am deeply dismayed.  There is no place for that sort of hateful, divisive rhetoric in our schools or our Jersey City community. I call on the Jersey City Board of Education to recommit to ensuring that every student and every staff member in our schools has a safe, welcoming environment. JCEA members work every day to build that environment, and we need the full support of a board of education that shares those values. As we mourn the tragic events of one week ago, we should be calling for tolerance and an open dialogue and not casting aspersions, pitting one group against another group or attempting to justify the actions of cold-blooded murderers. We are One Jersey City and have always been a welcoming place for everyone as well as a beacon of hope for the Nation in such divided times. While we respect the right for Ms. Terrell-Page to be have her own opinion, we cannot accept her prejudiced and anti-Semitic sentiments expressed in her recent Facebook post. And while her opinion may reflect a small portion of the community, there is no space for bigotry in our school system. We respectfully ask Ms. Page to retract her words as well as agree to cultural sensitivity training and step aside as a Jersey City Public Schools Board Trustee.

Bigotry and prejudice have no place on any Board of Education as we round the corner to 2020. As educators, we will do our level best to help our students and the community begin to heal and we ask each and every one of you to join us in this task.

I am personally inviting leaders of the African American and Jewish communities to sit down for a meeting at the JCEA as soon as possible.  All concerns, such as housing and neighborhood issues, must be laid on the table and an honest, open conversation must be had. I ask all leaders of both communities to sit in solidarity and discuss how we can move forward, together.”

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