South Brunswick Board Of Education Member Targeted by Anti-Islamic Graffiti

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A member of the South Brunswick Board of Education, who was re-elected on Tuesday night, has been targeted by anti-Islamic graffiti on campaign lawn signs.

Six different signs for Azra Baig, a Muslim woman who wears a hijab, were defaced with graffiti, including phrases like "rag head," "ISIS" and "ISIS sympathizer," between Sept. 26 and Oct. 21, just two days after the signs were places, Baig told Patch.

Replacement signs that were put up after vandalized signs were given to the police were also vandalized, Baig said, calling the repeated targeting "shocking,"

An investigation into the matter is still ongoing, South Brunswick Police Captain James Ryan told Patch. No arrests have been made, and anyone with information is asked to contact the police department.

“These criminal actions do not represent any part of the wonderful community of South Brunswick, NJ and the warmth and kindness of everyone I have had the pleasure of meeting with,” Baig said in a statement. “I am grateful to the community for their support of my re-election and I am grateful for the efforts of the South Brunswick Police Department for their efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

In a phone call to Patch, Baig stressed that this incident was not typical of her fifteen years in the South Brunswick community, and thanked all of her supporters. Said she had only been treated with "respect, warmth and love" and that it was a "great community."

Supporters and friends rallied around Baig, commenting a Facebook post of Baig's that they were saddened by the vandalism, and would stand by her.

Hate crimes (also known as bias crimes) hinge on the motivation of the crime: Was it committed with the intent to intimidate someone based on their race, religion, gender or something similar?

South Brunswick is not known for religiously motivated crimes. In 2014, South Brunswick reported just two hate crimes stemming from religion and four related to ethnicity.

If a suspect is identified, an investigation into the motivation of the graffiti would determine if the matter is technically a hate crime under law.

Baig told Patch, "I'm confident that the South Brunswick Police Department will catch these criminals, and they have been working hard with their time and resources." She called the SBPD "one of the best in the state."

Executive Director of CAIR-NJ, James Sues, stressed that this should be investigated as a hate crime.

“This kind of hate speech serves to reinforce negative stereotypes and cast a shadow of suspicion and doubt over all Muslims,” Sues said. “We urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate this incident as a possible hate crime.”

Other elected officials from South Brunswick expressed their sadness at the graffiti.

“I am extremely disappointed in what happened to Ms. Azra Baig’s campaign signs,” said South Brunswick Mayor Frank Gambatese. “We are very proud of Ms. Baig and her service to the community. This is not who we are in South Brunswick.”

U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a friend of Baig who endorsed her re-election campaign, called for unity after a divisive campaign season.

“Unfortunately, these past months have seen a level of divisiveness and rancor that should be intolerable for anyone in a civilized society," Watson Coleman said. “There is no circumstance where we can be willing to accept the racism, sexism, xenophobia and religious intolerance that has permeated throughout this past election cycle. Now, more than ever, we need to stand strong as one community and put aside our differences so that we may all do the hard work required to ensure an even brighter tomorrow for our country’s future generation.”

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with any information is asked to call the South Brunswick Police Department at 732-329-4000, X7460.

Images via Azra Baig