CAIR NJ
Today, I stood on the steps of the New Jersey Statehouse alongside CAIR-NJ to recognize the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. It’s a cause that should have the unwavering support of every leader, yet I was the only gubernatorial candidate present. That shouldn’t be the case—not in New Jersey, not in this country, and not in the world.
As a 501(c)(3), CAIR-NJ cannot allow political candidates to speak at their event, but that didn’t stop me from preparing a message. Here’s what I wanted to say.
We stand here today in the heart of our state, in the very halls where laws are debated and history is written, to recognize the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
But, let me be clear– This day is a call to action.
A demand for justice. A reminder that we cannot stand idly by as hatred festers in our communities.
Islamophobia is not a distant issue. It is here– right in New Jersey, across the United States, in our workplaces, in our schools, and of course, even in our government. It rears its ugly head in the form of vandalized mosques, the harassment of women wearing the cloth of their culture– of who they truly represent, in politicians demonizing entire communities for political gain.
Right here in New Jersey, we have one of the largest and most vibrant Muslim communities in the country— over 300,000 strong.
Muslims have helped build this state. They are our doctors, our teachers, our engineers, our first responders. They are part of the very fabric of our society. Yet, despite this, hate crimes against Muslims have been rising.
After 9/11, we saw how quickly our government made us fear an entire way of life. The NYPD’s surveillance program targeted Muslim businesses, mosques, and student groups—including right here in New Jersey. This was a gross violation of civil rights. An entire community was treated as suspicious, simply for practicing their faith. It’s taken years of organizing and legal battles to put an end to it. We can no longer allow this to occur.
We see echoes of that same overreach today in attempts to criminalize peaceful protests and suppress free speech. The fight against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate must never be used to silence political dissent.
The proposed IHRA bill in New Jersey seeks to redefine antisemitism in a way that conflates legitimate criticism of the Israeli government with hate speech, is a dangerous step toward censorship. I oppose this bill because I stand for free speech, for academic freedom, and for the right of people to protest injustice—whether in Palestine, Kashmir, Myanmar, Sudan, or right here in Trenton.
Let me be clear: opposing Islamophobia is not about political correctness– it is about fundamental human dignity. It is about ensuring that every child growing up in this state, no matter of their religion, can feel safe, valued, and heard. It is about protecting the very freedoms that this country was founded upon—the freedom of religion, the freedom of expression, and the freedom to live without fear of persecution.
And let’s not forget—Islamophobia doesn’t just manifest in hateful words or discriminatory policies. It manifests in genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement.
In Myanmar, the Rohingya Muslim community has faced brutal violence, with entire villages burned, families slaughtered, and over a million people forced to flee for their lives.
In Sudan, ongoing conflicts have led to mass killings and humanitarian crises, disproportionately affecting Muslim communities caught in the crossfire.
In Palestine, particularly in Gaza, generations have endured displacement, occupation, and violence, with entire communities erased, thousands killed, and millions forced from their homes, facing an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
These atrocities should outrage EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!
So today, I am not just here to make a speech. I am here to make a promise. As governor, I will fight to protect the rights of every New Jerseyan, regardless of faith, race, or background. This is not just about fighting for Muslims today. This is about recognizing a cycle of oppression that has existed for centuries in this country. Over the past 300 years, we have seen waves of discrimination, each time targeting a new group, each time justifying hatred under a different excuse—but always with the same result: pain, suffering, and injustice.
The Native Indigenous people of this land faced genocide, forced removal, and stolen generations—entire communities wiped out or displaced simply for existing on their own land, the land we stand on today. And while we will never be able to reverse the past, we must look to the future and strive towards restitution and justice.
The Irish, fleeing famine and hardship, arrived on these shores only to be met with “No Irish Need Apply” signs, forced into slums, and treated as second-class citizens.
The Italians, branded as criminals and undesirables, subject to lynchings and mass discrimination, their contributions ignored while their communities were vilified.
The Germans were demonized during both World Wars, their loyalty questioned, their businesses attacked, their language banned in schools.
The Mexicans and other Latin American communities have faced decades of racial profiling, mass deportations, and policies that are working against them, not for them.
In New Jersey and across the U.S., the African American community has endured slavery, segregation, racial terror, systemic discrimination, and police violence, yet despite centuries of oppression, they have led the fight for civil rights, justice, and equality.
And today, Muslims face the same pattern of dehumanization. They are painted as threats, their faith misrepresented, their communities surveilled, their rights under attack. But history has shown us something else too: those who were once oppressed often rise to become pillars of this country, shaping its culture, its industries, and it's very identity.
Our differences— our cultures, our traditions, our beliefs—are not things to be feared. They are what make us strong. They are what make New Jersey a place of resilience, innovation, and progress.
When we teach our children to appreciate diversity instead of fear, when we expose them to different perspectives rather than shelter them from the unknown, we lay the foundation for a society built on understanding and mutual respect.
That is why we must commit to an education system that fosters inclusion, empathy, and critical thinking in classrooms where students can obtain the opportunity to learn about the struggles and triumphs of all people, from all faiths, and all walks of life.
We do not have to agree on everything to respect one another. We do not have to practice the same faith or come from the same background to stand together. But we must recognize that our diversity is not a weakness—it is a gift. And if we fail to embrace it, if we allow division and hatred to persist, we betray the very values this nation was built upon.
Us gathering here today proves that WE THE PEOPLE have the RIGHT to REJECT division, to educate the next generation with truth and compassion, and to build a New Jersey where every child, no matter their faith or background, knows that they belong.
If you have at any point thought of fighting for this cause and doing the work– I’m talking the REAL work– the work that takes teamwork, the work that will help us end the hatred the American Government has continued to fuel, NOW IS THE TIME TO JOIN ME AND THE GREEN PARTY! SO WE CAN FIGHT THIS NOW!
