Ravinder Bhalla became New Jersey’s first Sikh mayor after a swearing in ceremony Monday, reports NJ.com.
His stunning election victory came just days after anonymous racist flyers were distributed branding him as a terrorist.
“What a long way we’ve come,” he said in his inaugural address. “This past election was a model of diversity showcasing for New Jersey and America a city that cares less about who you love, where you came from, what your gender is, where you worship than they care about your ability to take on the challenges ahead for our city.”
Among those attending the swearing in ceremony was Gurbir Grewal, who would become the first Sikh to become state attorney general in the country if confirmed. Grewal was nominated by New Jersey Gov.-elect Phil Murphy last month.
“There is just something so right and so encouraging about celebrating this moment as we turn the page on 2017 and embark upon a new era, because today, together all of us in this room are turning the page on a year that saw a rise in intolerance across this country,” said Grewal. “We’re turning a page on a year that saw and an increase in attacks on people based on hate and ignorance and bias.”
NJTV News reported Bhalla’s first official act was to resist President Trump’s immigration policies by declaring Hoboken a “fair and welcoming” city.
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