The statement below is by Freeholder Jonathan Young in regard to the recent attacks targeting the Jewish community in our area and elsewhere.
“Over the past several weeks, we have had to witness one hate-fueled attack after another, leading most recently to this weekend’s attack in Monsey, New York. These incidents have left me sickened and heartbroken. On behalf of every member of the Freeholder Board, I want to once again reiterate that we stand with the Jewish community, and I want everyone to rest assured that our law enforcement officers and first responders are committed to keeping our community safe in light of these horrific events.
The Camden County Department of Public Safety is maintaining an active dialogue with law enforcement, clergy, and residents to ensure that places of worship are protected and remain safe havens for all who seek them. Our law enforcement partners have communicated to us that heightened attention is being paid to places with religious affiliations and we will continue to be in constant contact with them indefinitely. I want to stress that there is no reason for panic, nor are we aware of any credible threats against our community, and that all of these measures are purely out of an abundance of caution. That said, we want to continue to remind everyone that if they see something suspicious, they should immediately report that activity to local law enforcement.
In recent years, we have seen a resurgence of hatred and bigotry that many of us preferred to believe was only a relic of the past. The truth is that we are living in a tumultuous moment of critical importance. If you have not already, now is the time to speak with your children about the significance of their words and actions, about the impact of bias and prejudice on their friends and neighbors, and why they must stand alongside their fellow members of the community as an ally.
We must continue to resist the evil of racism, religious hatred, and all forms of bigotry. Our community is only made stronger by its diversity, and only made weaker by fear of those who are different than ourselves. There is no place for hate in our community, and it has no home in Camden County. Moving forward, we will continue to work with our partners in the community to make sure that all appropriate resources are available for those who need them.”