Mom In Lanternfly Incident To Address NJ Bias Crimes At Statewide Forum In Caldwell

NEW JERSEY — Panelists including state Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Caldwell-based community activist and mom Monique Joseph will discuss recent bias crimes across New Jersey in a forum at Caldwell University next Wednesday.

The forum will be the fourth installment in a discussion series, and will take place in person Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.

The forum is titled, "Unite Against Hate: The State of Bias Crimes in NJ Town Hall."

Toward the end of last year, police were called on Monique Joseph's 9-year-old daughter, Bobbi, as she was out spraying spotted lanternflies in her neighborhood in Caldwell. The family is Black and suggested that in response to the incident, the community needed to have a discussion about race discrimination.

(UPDATE: Bobbi was honored by Yale last month and her mom spoke out; read more here.)

Among more recent bias crimes in North Jersey, Essex County saw two incidents of antisemitism in the last few weeks, including someone throwing a firebomb at a synagogue overnight.

Besides Platkin and Joseph, the discussion will feature physician leader Dr. Chris T. Pernell, and Helen Archontou, CEO of YWCA Northern New Jersey.

This particular town hall will emphasize racially motivated bias crimes.

"The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office found that in 2021 the state recorded the most bias incidents since these records were collected starting in 1994," said a release, noting that discrimination and racial trauma have been linked to poorer health outcomes, according to the Jackson Heart Study.

The conversation will be focused on raising awareness and providing resources about discrimination to the public, organizers said. The public can ask questions of the panel about how to create a safer and more inclusive community.

Registration for the event can be found on Eventbrite.

The event takes place at the Alumni Theater at Caldwell University on Bloomfield Avenue.