Jon H. Larson, Ph.D.President:

Every person in Ocean County with a voice must condemn the recent acts of violence, threats, and social media harassment perpetrated against Jewish and Asian students and community members across America. Those entrusted with positions of community leadership must stand up, now.

I was appalled to see some in the media and even some in higher education serve as apologists for the violence and hateful rhetoric against Jewish and Asian students in America’s colleges and universities over the fighting between Hamas terrorists and Israeli military forces in Gaza.

Violence against members of any racial, ethnic, or religious minority group violates their civil rights and threatens the security of all citizens. The time has come for all who love American democracy and the protections of our Constitutional rights to speak out and publicly disavow this wave of hateful, violent acts against Jewish and Asian students or any minority community.

No one, no man or woman with a conscience, can stand by and watch these disgusting acts of hatred go on and just say or do nothing. Each of us, elected officials, business leaders, educators, clergy, people of good will, all of us, must publicly condemn this frightful and growing trend of violence and bigoted acts against Jews, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and all other minorities viciously assaulted and slurred over the past several months.

I ask each citizen of Ocean County and especially all members of the Ocean County College community to repudiate these repugnant acts of blatant discrimination. Instead, let us all choose to be examples of virtuous bravery by denouncing sectarian and racial violence wherever we find it.

Jon H. Larson, Ph.D.
President