A New Jersey mayor is facing a huge backlash after a tweet encouraging people to call the police if they see any Orthodox Jews at the town's beaches and parks.
It all began with a constituent complaining about the Hasidic and Orthodox Jews seen in the area, NJ.com reported.
“@MayorDucey can we please do something about our parks and beaches. They are being invaded by the hasidic and orthodox jews and being ruined. Our tax paying residents are being forced out while politicians sit and do nothing,” said @simms10471. Understandably, the account has now been deleted, but not before screen captures were taken.
Brick Township Mayor John Ducey responded Tuesday in a way he didn't realize it would be interpreted.
“Our parks security has started already. Just call police with any problems and they will send them out,” Ducey tweeted.
Ducey didn't think anything of it, just telling people to contact police when they have problems. But now it's being taken as an act of anti-Semitism.
Ducey told NJ.com Wednesday that he should have worded his tweet better.
“I apologize to anyone who read the statement in the wrong way. It wasn’t meant to be read that way,” he said. “The original tweet from the commenter was a disgusting, bigoted statement. My suggestions was what we would do with anyone if -- if -- there were any problems. People are misinterpreting it as me telling him to call park security. There was nothing to call about."
He experienced huge a huge backlash from people of color online saying that when police are called on them, it doesn't end well.
