'Not Here, Not Now, Not Ever:' Morris County Rallies Against Hate

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ - More than 350 Morris County residents joined together with the Morris County Board of Freeholders, Morris County Sheriff and Prosecutor, the state Attorney General and religious leaders from across Morris County to speak out against a rising tide of hate.

The first Morris County Community Rally Against Hate brought out people of diverse religions and ethnic backgrounds who gathered at the Gottesman RTW Academy in Randolph Thursday evening.

Morris County Prosecutor Frederic Knapp said the event was intended to be a unity gathering.

“As a member of the Jewish community, and County Prosecutor, I am deeply concerned about recent acts of Anti-Semitism. We stand together as a united force to protect all residents of Morris County and to prosecute those who would attack anyone because of their religion, race, national origin, gender or any other classification. If you see or hear of a bias incident, please report to law enforcement. Our office is here 24/7,” Knapp said. “The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the law enforcement officers you see here - and the ones you don’t see here - are here for you. We stand with you.”

The crowd, clergy and political and law enforcement officials stood united against the hatred and bigotry that recently has targeted the Jewish community and other faiths in our state and nation.

Emceed by Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, the event featured a wide array of messages from a leaders from across the state and region, including New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, Freeholder Director Deborah Smith and Freeholder John Krickus, and Knapp.

"We're here, taking a stand together against hate, ignorance and bigotry that all lead to an unstable society. We are better protected when we care for each other," Gannon said.

Video messages were sent by U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherill and state Sen. Anthony Bucco, who were in legislative sessions in Washington and Trenton last night.

It also included the following religious leaders: Rabbi Levi Dubinsky of the Chabad Center of Mountain Lakes, Boonton, and Denville; Basel Hamdeh of Jam-e-Masjid Islamic Center, Boonton; Rev. Herman Scott of Calvary Baptist Church, Morristown; Chandu Bhoraniya, devotee of B.A.P.S. Swaminarayan Mandir, Parsippany; Rabbi Mendy Herson, Rabbinical College of America, Morristown; and Moshe Vaknon, Head of School, Gottesman RTW Academy, Randolph.

Students from the Gottesman RTW Academy offered songs during the event, including the Star Spangled Banner and Hatikvah. Along with Moshe Vaknin, they led a closing song that featured clergy and community leaders singing, hand-in-hand and arm-in-arm.

Smith spoke of the wave of anti-Semitism and hate-crime attacks against religious institutions across the nation.

"The attack in Jersey City. The horrible event in Monsey, N.Y. The shooting at a Christian church in Texas. And so many more. Even here in Morris County, a Menorah recently was vandalized in a public space in Mendham" Smith said. "As a community, we cannot accept this behavior. I can tell you as a leader of county government, and a woman of the Jewish faith, that here in Morris County that we will not ignore it. We will not hide from it. We must confront it. And we will."

In the wake of recent attacks, the freeholders reached out to county law enforcement and religious leaders to explore a possible county response, and are asking members of faith-based communities across the county and the general public to join in standing up against hatred, violence and bigotry.

"All of our residents must be able to live their lives in our county, state and nation without fear of being harassed or persecuted for their personal and religious beliefs," Smith said. "That is a basic tenet of our democracy. Nothing is more sacred in America. So today, we stand as a countywide community in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors and other religions, and we reject hate with one clear voice from all of the people of Morris County."

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.