The Sussex County Republican Committee’s Twitter is filled with abhorrent images depicting racism, sexism, prejudice, homophobia, religious intolerance, xenophobia and more. There are images on the SCDC Facebook to provide you with some examples. Jerry Scanlan, the Sussex County Republican Committee Chair, sits at the top of this organization and Twitter page as it spreads this vile and damaging content. He simultaneously sits on the Sussex County Community College Board of Trustees as Vice Chair. Members of the SCDC and residents were speaking out against this issue last night: no member of the SCCC Board of Trustees or organization any member leads should make a conscious choice to post content that inflames hatred and bigotry. If it were a Democrat, Independent or any other Republican the reaction would be the same — this is not political. This hate speech demeans the college, its educators, its students (past, present and future), and our county.

To twist the words and intent of the brave individuals who spoke out at and attended last night’s SCCC Board of Trustees meeting represents the SCCC Board of Trustees Vice Chair’s questionable judgment. This was clearly not about sanctuary states and defending four specific Congresswomen.

Education is a fundamental right. Myself, and residents of this county, are proud of our Community College and will not stand for its reputation to be diminished by the compulsive posting of deplorable images that inflame hate. A college’s productivity and safety are diminished significantly when a student knows decisions regarding their education are being made in part by someone that spreads hate.

The SCCC Board of Trustees assured the members of the community that this would be looked into thoroughly. I trust those members completely to follow through on their word. Please do not let this become a political pivot to sanctuary states and Governor Murphy, who I can guarantee was on no one’s minds when they saw these images. The Governor’s name, only evoked by Jerry Scanlan, Assemblyman Hal Wirths and Assemblyman Parker Space, was done so with the single intent to shift the focus. The sole and dire issue is the Vice Chair of the SCCC Board of Trustees posting images that embolden hatred, bigotry, sexism and religious intolerance. The SCDC is horrified by the blatant racism being spread in our county. We condemn these oppressive actions.