The Simon-Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles describes itself as “outraged” over what it called anti-semitic postings on the Facebook page of Edison, New Jersey council president Joyce Ship-Freeman.
One posting which she shared on her Facebook page in all caps reads “We don’t eat Chinese food any more, Okay. Black people if U with me repost.”
Another posting above the caption of “hmmmm…just so you know!!!, she writes about a Saint by the name of Corona? “He is the Saint of Plagues and infectious diseases. She is also to be woshipped from March until May. Her “Feast” is May 14 . May 14, 1948 also happens to be the day when “Israel” became a nation.”
“Jews and Asian Americans are well aware of the impact of negative stereotyping, the Center said in a statement. “It should have no place in the lexicon of any American politician. As we struggle to defeat the Coronavirus, no one in a position of responsibility in American life should be validating any form of hate – especially history’s oldest virus – anti-Semitism.”
In an email to NJ101.5, Ship-Freeman wrote “
“I am a proud African American woman who rose above it all and will not let men bully me when they don’t get their way. Shame on them for hating a woman who happens to be African American and a senior citizen,” Ship-Freeman, a Democrat.”
She said she is not responsible for the posts and says she is the victim of hacking.
Several came to her defense saying there is nothing in Ship-Freeman’s history that would lead them to believe she is responsible.
The NAACP also issued a statement.
“To reiterate, the Metuchen Edison Piscataway Area Branch of the NAACP strongly condemns any hateful and divisive comments whether they are local or National. This type of action used by any individual has no place in our society, and as an organization whose mission is to eradicate discrimination in any medium. For over forty years we have worked side by side with our Asian, Latino-Hispanic and Jewish Communities. We stand with all our brothers and sisters to promote all forms of diversity. As our Attorney General Grewal recently stated “When we have political leaders in this country who encourage intolerance and hatred – or in cases ignore or countenance it – then it is not surprising that we see these results. As individuals and as a society, we need to push back against this prejudice, embracing our rich diversity and spreading a message of unity.”
Furthermore, though we absolutely do not condone the posts found on Edison Council President Joyce Ship-Freeman’s Facebook page, we do recognize her outstanding work in the community.
The postings have since been removed from Ship-Freeman’s Facebook page.
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RE: Council president accused of posting anti-Chinese and anti-semitic remarks on Facebook: all she has to do is prove that the statements attributed to her were hacked, but she is not doing so. rabbi dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
RE: Council President accused of posting anti-Chinese and anti-Semitic remarks on Facebook: I defended her not because she is BLACK. However she should have reached out to her supporters and answered the questions asked. I find it interesting and disturbing that the Black ministers, Black churches, and the NAACP are not speaking out to defend her. Why is it so quiet, no one is saying anything. very strange.