Trenton Councilman Blakeley Calls for 

Emergency Town Hall Condemning Hate Speech

Councilman Blakeley Calls for Trenton Community to Stand 

Condemning Anti-Semitism and All Forms of Hate at Tonight’s Town Hall

Trenton N.J. – Trenton At-Large Councilman Jerell Blakeley is calling for the broader Trenton community to attend an Emergency Town Hall Condemning Hate Speech meeting tonight at Trenton’s City Hall Council Chambers at 5:30 PM. In the wake of local, state, and national condemnation of the use and minimization of Anti-Semitic slurs by members of Trenton’s City Council and the continued silence and failure to acknowledge said slurs by other members of City Council, Blakeley calls the meeting imperative. 

“I am inviting the Trenton community to attend this Emergency Town Hall meeting to show our county, state, and country that the Anti-Semitic comments of my colleagues don’t represent the values of the Trenton community,” said Councilman Blakeley. “Religious, political and community leaders are scheduled to give remarks at tonight’s Emergency Town Hall meeting to discuss how the Trenton community can combat hate speech.  This cannot be the new normal.”

Councilman Blakeley also said, “Anti-Semitism and all forms of hate have no place in America.  After criticism from Trenton Mayor Reed Guscoria, New Jersey Senator Corey Booker, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, the 15th State Assembly delegation, and the entire NJ congressional delegation, Trenton Council President McBride finally did the right thing and gave a public apology at last evening’s council meeting.”

“This came  after refusing for days to even acknowledge her Anti-Semitic comments because of claims of executive session privilege,” continued Blakeley. “However, Trenton South Ward Councilman George Muschal and West Ward Councilwoman Robin Vaughn have stubbornly refused all calls for a public apology and when provided an opportunity to do so last night, refused to do so.“

According to Blakeley, this failure to even publicly acknowledge their most recent public comments is a stunning exhibition of their lack of contrition.  Both have stubbornly refused to even acknowledge the painful legacy of Anti-Semitism.  “We must expect more from our elected representatives, “ said Blakeley. “In the wake of my colleagues’ failure to pass a motion of censure decrying individual member’s embracement of Anti-Semitic tropes and rhetoric and in the face of national condemnation, Trenton must come together to show the world that they don’t represent us.”