Middletown BOE President Pam Rogers Responds To Attack Video

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Campaign season is in full swing in Middletown, and this YouTube video surfaced over the weekend, criticizing Board of Education Pamela Rogers, who is locked in a fierce battle this fall for re-election.

You can watch the video below; it is publicly available on YouTube.

Rogers is running on a slate with Robin Stella and Nick DiFranco, and all three are running to keep their seats on the Board. They are being challenged by the "Putting Children First" slate of Jacqueline Tobacco, Frank Capone and Harmony Heffernan, as well as Kelly Brodin, Pam Smith and Patricia Reed of "Unifying Middletown," plus Raymond Jankowski, running as an independent.

The video, released by an account called "Middletown Anonymous," features Rogers talking about how she is a progressive Democratic who — in her words — is "living in a red town." The video also criticizes her for helping to facilitate Middletown's Black Lives Matter/Rally For Social Justice march in June.

On Monday morning, Patch asked Rogers to respond to the video. She did, calling it "sad" and said it was lifted from a conversation she had with NJ 4 Congress candidate Christine Conforti, the progressive who lost the Democratic primary to the more mainstream Stephanie Schmid. Schmid will challenge Republican Chris Smith for the Congress seat this November.

"This is so sad," said Rogers. "Progressive Democrats do not all want to defund the police. I certainly do not. I’ve spoken to (Middletown Police) Chief Weber about this. He has assured me that there’s no ill will between he and I or between myself and the Middletown Police Department. I have two very young children and I depend on our police department to keep them safe. My son’s favorite t-shirt is his 'lead' t-shirt from the MTPD."

While the video does not address it, Patch asked Rogers her thoughts on incorporating the 1619 Project into Middletown school curriculum. There was a push this summer to diversify what is taught in Middletown schools and create an "anti-racist" curriculum. Some school districts across the U.S. have started teaching the 1619 Project; President Trump is very critical of it, calling it "ideological poison."

"No. That would be an administrative decision but, no, nothing like that has been discussed at all," said Rogers. "The administration feels that the 1619 Project, while valuable in many ways, is just too partisan and political for a public school district to adopt."

Here is the video:

And here is Rogers' entire statement in response:

"My name is Pam Rogers. I am a resident of Middletown, your school board president, and a candidate in this year’s election.

I’ve recently been made aware of a smear video, calling me anti-cop. This video misrepresents me and defames my character. Additionally, earlier in the year, there was a petition started for me to step down, referencing a Middletown-wide rally for Unity in June. The petition, too, distorts the events of that day and arrives at conclusions based on supposition and falsehoods. I believe it is important for the facts to be known. While the Superintendent of Schools has responded publicly regarding the involvement of the administration and Board of Education, I am speaking from my own perspective. These are not the views of the Middletown Township Board of Education.

On June 28, 2020, I along with several hundred other township residents attended the “Spread Love, Not Hate” unity rally. The rally was organized by a group of students and alumni of Middletown Township Public Schools. These individuals, many of them children, described their personal stories of racial, gender, and other discrimination within our community. Their “Spread Love Not Hate” rally was meant to bring attention to their cause and promote healing through the sharing of their experiences and that of other minority community members. As such, the rally was also an opportunity to mourn the loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Freddie Grey and countless other Americans.

It is this aspect that seems to have drawn the ire of the petitioner. It’s important to state the facts of that day:

• The rally was not “anti-police." The first speaker at the rally was Chief Craig Weber of the MTPD, who credited the organizers for a peaceful, thoughtful event.
• The rally was not violent. There were two hecklers. Both were reprimanded by the organizers of the rally.
• There is an assertion in the petition that I am personally anti-police. This is untrue. I’ve reached out to the police department and Chief Weber has assured me that there is no ill will or animosity between me and the MTPD.
• I continue to denounce hate speech. While members of the public have a right to express themselves as they choose, my personal stance is to embrace inclusion and positivity as a means to effect change in our community.
• I encourage everyone to look at this video, petition and other negative social media about me and consider the whole context. As a volunteer member of our Board of Education, my actions and statements are held to ethical standards I am sworn to uphold, and are a part of the public record. As a mother to two young children, I am continuously working to set a good, honest example for them to follow.

These attacks on my character are difficult for my family to endure, but I am confident that truth and decency will prevail. Thank you for your time and support."

"By the way, that (video) was an excellent interview, where Conforti and I discussed how all of us, regardless of political party, really want the same things for our children, at the end of the day," she added. "We just want them to be safe, happy and get an excellent education. We were talking about how we need to stop fighting and learn to listen to one another. It’s a shame the videographer left that part out. My Middletown is full of people who are open minded and willing to listen to each other, regardless of our political party. This video does not reflect the Middletown I know and love. This is hateful political propaganda. I really don’t know what to say."

Keep reading: Hundreds Ask Middletown Schools To Begin 'Anti-Racist' Curriculum (June 19)

Police Chief, Students Speak At Middletown Social Justice March (June 29)

Sister Of Fallen Middletown Police Officer Takes Issue With BLM March (July 29)