Red Bank Residents Gather For Ukraine

RED BANK, NJ — As roughly 150 Red Bank locals gathered Friday afternoon in solidarity with the victims of Russia's invasion, a Ukraine flag painted on the grass at Riverside Gardens Park glistened in the light.

Pastor Porter and Rabbi Kline led prayers during the informal gathering, which was organized by state Senator Vin Gopal.

“Evil does exist. It exists in the form of a human being, it exists in the form of an ideology,” said Gopal. “But when we all come together and show this mutual admiration for humanity, it should give all of us hope.”

Lori Linskey, the Acting Prosecutor, spoke at the occasion and commented on her own connection to the people of Ukraine, which she inherited from her late maternal grandfather, who immigrated to America from Ukraine.

Linskey also expressed gratitude and support for several local police departments that have made generous donations to the Ukrainian people.

The Brielle Police Department, announced earlier this week that it is sending 17 decommissioned ballistic vests to Quantico, Virginia, where they will be handed over to a Ukrainian police officer about to graduate from the FBI National Academy.

“Folks, I don’t know where God is in a war, but I know that God is in the relief,” said Rabbi Kline, of the Monmouth Reform Temple.