'Hate Does Not Belong' Says Livingston After School Bus Theft, Other Antisemitic Incidents

LIVINGSTON, NJ — It didn't start with the school bus that was stolen in Livingston last month, but it sure didn't help.

After a school bus was stolen from town on Jan. 17, parents in North Jersey were warned to be careful which bus their kids got on. The suspect in the bus theft was caught and linked to a journal with antisemitic writing inside, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Incidents of hate and violence against Jewish people are on the rise in America, and three recent incidents in Essex County underscore this: The bus incident, the Molotov cocktail that was thrown at a Bloomfield synagogue, and the FBI arrest of a man who'd threatened synagogues in North Jersey.

On Saturday, Livingston officials took part in a rally against antisemitism.

"Antisemitism not only affects Jewish people, individually or collectively, but, as a belief based on hate and prejudice, it attacks all societies," said Mayor Michael Vieira.

Vieira gave the following speech:

Although I wish it could be under different circumstances on behalf of the Township of Livingston… Welcome.

I am joined here today by our Council Members Shawn Klein, Rosy Bagolie, Ed Meinhardt and Deputy Mayor Al Anthony. I want to thank our Livingston Police, Fire, First Aid and Auxiliary Police as well as our DPW for also representing Livingston here today.

Governor Murphy has reached out to me to say that although he could not be here in person today, he is here with you in spirit.

I want to thank all the sponsors who helped coordinate today's Rally to Protest Antisemitism.

Livingston is a town of Diversity and inclusion. We are a town with residents who represent many different nationalities, races, cultures, beliefs and religions.

We are a community that comes together to support one another in times of crisis and despair.

Let me say that Antisemitism is not about Jews. It is about anti-Semites. Antisemitism not only affects Jewish people, individually or collectively, but, as a belief based on hate and prejudice, it attacks all societies, threatening human rights and the security of all where it occurs.

Antisemitism also violates the right to freedom of religion or belief. Not just to Jews but to everyone who values freedom, compassion and humanity.

We just celebrated the late Martin Luther King Jr.‘s birthday and in his words "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

And today we come together to say that

Hate does not belong in this town.

Hate does not belong in this County

Hate does not belong in this State or in this Country or in this World.

For those who hate, we will pray for you….. but we will not tolerate you.

Earlier this week Councilwoman Bagolie wrote on social media words that touched me when I read them and I asked her if I could repeat them here today.

It reads…. “I believe in the hope that can unite us and the love that brings us together for the good of our collective hearts. Together we can drive out the hate that hurts. May we all come together in love to heal, and may the rest of our year be filled with peace, health and safety.”

So, today we say WE are one voice, We are one heart, We are one community standing together against Hate, against violence of any form, against any one culture, religion, or creed who wants to hurt us. We are united in hope and we are united in peace and hate has no home in this
State or in Livingston!

Feb. 5, 2023 Rally to Protest Antisemitism