Toms River Council Condemns Hate Speech, But Not Facebook Group

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Township Council approved a resolution that condemned hate speech on Tuesday night.

But that resolution stopped short of condemning a Facebook page that has been accused of spreading anti-Semitism, prompting criticism from some who had gathered to call on the council to condemn the page.

That page, Rise Up Ocean County, has come under public criticism since the posting of a video as part of a teaser for an upcoming documentary that showed Jewish children and used the words of the famous Holocaust poem that begins "They came for the socialists ..." The page and its administrators have been accused of spreading falsehoods and inciting hate. The administrator say the only goal is to shine a light on concerns about the potential for overdevelopment in the county and the rapidly growing population of Lakewood.

The Ocean County Board of Freeholders passed a resolution last week condemning Rise Up Ocean County and the video, and the Lakewood Township Committee has passed a similar one. Read more: Ocean Freeholders Label Facebook Group As Anti-Semitic

Michael Cohen, the eastern regional director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said the council's refusal to name Rise Up Ocean County in its resolution was "disappointing."

"Rise Up Ocean County, what they are doing is wrong," Cohen said. "Anything less than calling them out is disappointing. " He said condemning hate speech is important, but the group's "use of videos of elementary school children to forward your issues is wrong. ... Anyone who can use the faces of our children needs to be specifically called out."

Cohen and the center organized a news conference before the council meeting about the center's efforts to get resolutions condemning the group passed. The press conference included Mohammad Ali Chaudry, a Muslim and former mayor of Bernards Township and Rutgers University professor who has been actively involved in efforts to encourage peace and understanding among different religions.

Chaudry addressed the council as well, saying more efforts need to be made to bring communities together. Toms River has had interfaith meetings and officials have previously spoken out, including when anti-Semitic graffiti was carved into playground equipment at Riverwood Park.

Chaudry also urged everyone to "pledge to stand up for each other," any time there is any kind of hate speech.

"There are practical issues that need to be addressed," Rev. Shawn Hyland of Toms River said. "There are people of good will who want to resolve issues. We can do better."

Anthony Merlino, the township's assistant attorney, said the resolution did not call out Rise Up Ocean County specifically because it would have created additional issues.

"It would put the council in the position of having to condemn every website that engages in ignorant commentary," Merlino said.

A woman who spoke later questioned why the resolution singled out "some" hate speech instead of "all," saying she had been repeatedly attacked for comments she had made in other forums that have been opposing and challenging the activities of Rise Up Ocean County. Merlino would not budge on the language, and instead urged her to stay out of those forums.

"Your resolution is a soft approach to reach a wide audience," said Phillip Brilliant, president of Congregation B'nai Israel in Toms River. "There is no place for hate. There is no place for hate speech that incites."

"There has to be an authentic dialogue to bring about solutions," a woman with the Ocean County Human Relations Commission said. "We have to ask ourselves, 'Did my words and actions perpetuate the problem, or help solve the problem?' "

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