'Hate Has No Home In Princeton:' Banner Targets 3 BOE Candidates

PRINCETON, NJ — On Tuesday morning, a large banner appeared on the corner of Valley Road and Ewing Street, targeting three incumbent Board of Education members who are seeking reelection – Dafna Kendal, Debbie Bronfeld and Susan Kanter.

The banner is critical of where the candidates stand on issues like equity and sex education.

“Phony Equity, Gender Confusion and Reverse Racism. Eagerly approved by the Board of Education. Bronfeld, Kanter, Kendal vote them out," reads the banner.

The group behind the banner currently remains anonymous.

A post on the website mentioned in the banner also targets school Superintendent Carol Kelley. According to the post, Kelley “wholeheartedly implemented the agendas” of “phony equity, gender confusion and reverse racism,” during her tenure at Park Elementary School District in Illinois.

“Hate has no home here in Princeton,” Kendal told Patch. “There has been an undercurrent of racism and anti-LGBTQ sentiment throughout this campaign. I’m disgusted by the message.”

The property on which the banner appears is owned by octogenarians John and Catherine Clausen, according to public records. It’s unclear who gave permission for the banner. Patch was unable to reach the family.

Kanter told Patch she was "angered and disappointed that such a hateful sign has been put in our town."

"It is incumbent on all candidates to call out the racist and anti-trans sentiments which do not represent the values of our community. All students deserve to be supported and celebrated," Kanter said.

Bronfled, who has served on the school board for six years said she wants “every student to feel safe, welcome, able and eager to achieve.”

"I respect the right for everyone to engage in the dialogue of our schools. I continue to support our health and physical ed educators in teaching age-appropriate sex ed, with opt-out options for families. Suicide thoughts have increased, in even our younger students, I support teaching sex ed tolerance, so that our queer students know they are being heard and seen, and that PPS is a safe place for them," Bronfeld said.

"The increase in racism in our schools is appalling, and Princeton families and the Princeton community need to also call this out. We must demand and work together so that everyone is held accountable for their actions, otherwise, no one will feel safe."

Five candidates are seeking three open seats on the Princeton Board of Education – Kendal, Bronfeld, Kanter, Rita Rafalovsky and Lishian Lisa Wu.

Rafalovsky condemned the incident, but said Kendal’s comment was “irresponsible.”

"Hate and intimidation have no place in our community, and this confrontational approach is uncalled for. We should assume good faith of all incumbents. Likewise, it's irresponsible for Board President Kendal to insinuate that challengers and their supporters in the BOE campaign are racists and homophobes,” Rafalovsky said.

“I was brought to the U.S. at age 8 from a country that created tyranny through labels and propaganda. I want no part in labeling, name-calling or the like. I chose to run for BOE to help our children have the best education.”

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