Editor’s note: Englewood’s Cheryl Rosenberg shared the following letter that was sent to the NAACP New Jersey president as part of her advocacy against hate-filled Facebook posts shared under the guise of membership in “NAACP Passaic.” Several disturbing images are shared as well.
We write to you today to ask for your help in fighting hatred—this time, within the context of the NAACP’s own ranks. We appreciate your working to take action to remove former chapter leader Dye from the Passaic chapter of the NAACP, but this group is still operating a Facebook page under the official name “NAACP Passaic, N.J. Branch.” There are frequently posts on this page that are anti-Jewish, mocking anti-Semitism, anti-Israel, and just simply hateful. As recently as today there are posts about Jewish individuals and groups that are unacceptably anti-Semitic. I have attached some of the more recent ones for your review, though my hope is that enough people will report them so that these specific ones will be gone by the time you look for them.
As a member of the Bergen County Chapter of the NAACP, and a believer in your mission against hatred and in support of equality and acceptance, I am dismayed that no action is being taken to protect the integrity of the messaging of your chapters. I have actively fought for the civil rights of all groups since I was in high school. In fact, my first job was at the ACLU, with which I am still involved. I am a Democratic elected official in Englewood, NJ, and I am active in the fight against hate wherever it occurs, no matter which group it targets.
I hope that you will act immediately to denounce and shut down this group that is spreading hatred with your name attached. Many local representatives have asked to co-sign this letter, and they are copied and their names and titles included below.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Weiner Rosenberg
Englewood City Council, 1st Ward Representative
Bergen County NAACP member
Deputy Mayor Mark J, Schwartz
Teaneck
Laurent Bensimon
Englewood
Rabbi Akiva Block
Kehilat Kesher Synagogue
Yossi Mandelbaum
Teaneck
Rabbi Saul Zucker
Head of School, Ben Porat Yosef
Lisa Wisotsky
Englewood Planning Board, Past President Englewood Board of Health, Bergen County NAACP member, Englewood Democratic Municipal Committee Member
Ken Rosenzweig
Vice-Chair Englewood Planning Board, Former Englewood City Councilmember, Englewood Democratic Municipal Committee Member
Charlotte Bennett Schoen
Former Englewood City Councilmember