Chatham Councilman Sorry For Anti-Muslim Remarks

CHATHAM, NJ - Anti-Muslim remarks posted online a decade ago have come back to haunt Chatham Borough Councilman Peter Hoffman as the Republican continues his reelection bid for Borough Council.

Yesterday, the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) called on Republican State Committee Chairman Doug Steinhardt to repudiate anti-Muslim and racist comments made on Facebook and on the anti-Muslim site BarenakedIslam by Hoffman.

In a Facebook post Hoffman stated that “a hyphenated American is not an American at all” and “assimilation is what made this country great, NOT emphasizing differences.”

According to CAIR-NJ, in a post to anti-Muslim hate site BarenakedIslam Hoffman stated, “Islam is a sick, backward faith practiced by low life scum. . .until the “moderate” Muslims rein in their sick brethren and stop this type of behavior, Islam will always be the religion of beasts in my mind.”

"The statements Mr. Hoffman made reveal a level of prejudice that would impact how he might serve his constituents of different faiths and races, and should disqualify him as a candidate," said CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues. "The bigoted views expressed by Mr. Hoffman do a disservice to the welcoming community in New Jersey. This is just a painful reminder of the extreme divisiveness that characterizes the current political climate at the state and national level.”

He said CAIR has witnessed an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.

For his part, Hoffman went back to Facebook and issued an apology.

"I have issued a sincere public apology to the Muslim Community for my bigoted, insensitive, and unacceptable comments made 10 years ago in reaction to an extremist video I viewed on a virulent anti-Islamic hate site," Hoffman wrote. "My comments, while emotional, are completely indefensible and I'm am sorry beyond words. I painted all Muslims with a bigoted brush and I while I cannot take the words back, I have committed to demonstrating my sincerity to make things right with the Muslim community, and would be happy to meet with representatives of CAIR to express my profound regret in person."

Hoffman told Patch he reached out to the Council on American Islamic Relations and apologized to them directly.

"I committed to meet with them at some point to discuss ways I can help build bridges," he said.

Sues said that CAIR-NJ welcomed Hoffman's public apology and commitment to dialogue.

"We look forward to engaging with him, and working together toward a more accepting and tolerant New Jersey," Sues said.

Hoffman and Len Resto are running for re-election in November for the Borough Council and are opposed by Democrats Carolyn Dempsey and Jocelyn Mathiasen.

Hoffman said he obviously regrets what he described as emotional and immature statements made years ago and said he is looking to make amends in a meaningful way. Besides the pain caused to the Islamic community, Hoffman said the anguish he has caused his family and his Resto is weighing on him.

"I feel so bad for what this has put him through," Hoffman said.

Resto told Patch that he is aware of the anger the remarks caused and even heard calls for Hoffman to resign.

"But I don't think this rises to that," Resto said. "The remarks were unfortunate and uncalled for and never should have been said. I'd like to think in his heart of hearts he doesn't believe them. I think he just got carried away on social media."

As to why the remarks were being brought up now, Resto wouldn't go as far as to say they were politically motivated.

"I do think people have nothing better to do than to search for this stuff," he said.

Resto said social media has made it easier for people to act out and write more extreme things without thinking. Resto also said that his experience with Hoffman has not led him to believe that he is bigoted.

"I've known Peter Hoffman since 1999 or 2000. He lives one street behind mine. I have not known him to harbor any type of animus towards anyone," Resto said. "He's a conservative and I am a gay man and when I came out to him as gay when he asked if I were married and had a family he was perfectly fine with it."

Resto said that besides the offer to work with CAIR-NJ Hoffman called him this morning and asked to get involved in the One World, One Love group that Resto is a part of. One World, One Love is a group of volunteers who act as a rapid response team for refugees resettling in NJ. The group provides immediate assistance such as setting up apartments to collecting donations, to long term resettlement efforts, such as job placement and facilitating social services, programs and events.

Resto said currently the group is working with a family from Afghanistan that is living in Elizabeth.

"The father is driving for Uber and the children are attending schools in Elizabeth," Resto said. "We're trying to get them acclimated to the west. We're trying to get the wife in classes so she can learn to speak English and we're trying to get them into a better apartment and him into a better job."

Resto said that Hoffman has volunteered to help that family.

"That is the perfect way to find out that these folks are not enemies of ours," Resto said.

(Photo courtesy of YouTube)

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