Public Officials From Monmouth County Draw Fire In Connection With Alleged Muslim Slurs

A prominent Monmouth County resident of Muslim faith is calling for the vice-president of the Marlboro school board to resign in the wake of her Facebook post about Muslim holidays.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, the Republican mayor of Union Beach told the Asbury Park Press, he has respect for President Barack Obama and simply posted a joke about the President on his Facebook page.

“Someone sent me a joke. It said a Communist, a Muslim, and an illegal alien walk into a bar,’’ Mayor Paul Smith told the Press. “The bartender said ‘hello Mr. President.’ And that’s what somebody sent me.”

According to the political blog Blue Jersey, the mayor’s Facebook page was public Monday evening.

The details of both Facebook posts were first reported by the website, Jersey Shore Insider.

In Marlboro, the Board of Education vice-president, Victoria Dean, last month posted an article on her Facebook page about a school district that planned to begin honoring Muslim holidays, and she wrote, “Pandora’s box opened,” according to Jersey Shore Insider.

She also appeared to like a comment that used a slur to describe President Obama, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Sami H. Elmansoury, of Marlboro, who has written about religious tolerance, told Jersey Shore Insider:

“Mrs. Dean may have the right to be deeply offensive to Marlboro residents, but given her apparent beliefs about many of the students that she represents, it is difficult to imagine that she can continue to objectively represent them on the School Board – she should absolutely resign.”

He reiterated that call for her resignation on his own Facebook page, where he said Dean has freedom of speech, but “with power comes responsibility.”
 More than 100 people have “liked” his post.

He wrote:

“This could happen anywhere, in any township across the nation, and against any community, so it is critical to not leave these actions unchecked, setting terrible precedent that they will be tolerated from those elected to represent us and our children. Had Dean or another done the same regarding members of Marlboro’s large Jewish, Christian, Hindu, or other communities, and I was asked to speak up by those communities, I would do so without hesitation, because I honor the right of those communities to be protected as much as I honor my own.

Let’s advance past these darkened days replete with misguided mistrust - I greatly appreciate your support for what is just for all of us as Americans - including our nation’s next generation.”

Dean, who is married to the Marlboro Republican Municipal Chairman Chris Dean, could not be reached for comment, the Press reported.

Photo: Victoria Elizabeth Dean, Paul Smith Facebook pages