Protesters are criticizing the mayor of a Union County township for saying he was pro-Black for all the good Black people that he knew during a demonstration against social injustice Saturday.
In the video provided to NJ Advance Media by protester Reid Alexander Ranalli, several demonstrators during a protest in Clark Township asked Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso if he would declare that he was pro-Black.
I am pro-Black for all the good Black people that I know in my life, Bonaccorso responded. After hearing the displeasure of the crowd, he continued.
I cant say that I am for anybody if I do not know you," he said. "I am for people. Good people. Law-abiding, hard-working, good family, good friends, and people with good intentions. If youre Black, great. If you are white, great. If you are Hispanic, great. It does not matter. I judge people on how you judge me. If you want to be my friend and stick your hand out, Ill shake your hand, and I will look you in the eye. My family is Italian-American. When my grandfather came to this country, he was discriminated against.
Emails to Bonaccorso, a Republican, and the township office for comment on the pushback were not returned Tuesday. In a video of his address to the crowd, he also said he was not racist, and that he will treat people always with respect. The crowd and protest organizers took issue with the mayors comments.
I thought the mayor said whatever he could to avoid committing to that statement, being pro-Black, and all of its implications, protest organizer Hanif Denny told NJ Advance Media.
Ranalli, who grew up in Rahway, said he and many of the other protesters were there Saturday to discuss racial inequities in Clark, and said he didnt think the mayor acknowledged those inequalities.
(The protesters) were talking about growing up, and kids would be afraid to drive through there because they get pulled over, Ranalli said. The elements (of racism) are already there.
Rahway Mayor Raymond A. Giacobbe was in attendance and also addressed the protesters. In another video of the event, the Rahway mayor, a Democrat, told the crowd he had known Bonaccorso for a long time.
I am going to tell you right now, this man is not a racist, Giacobbe, who is also white, told the diverse crowd. But, he could not have an understanding of what the African-Americans are going through in this town because he has not ever had to experience that. Lets have that dialogue to make him understand the hurt that it feels to drive through Clark as an African-American and get pulled over. Make him understand that we want change with those types of actions. Giacobbe added that he believes in protests, but after they happen, a dialogue has to start to create effective change.
I believe in peaceful protests, and I want to say it right now, Black Lives Matter, Giacobbe said. That should not be a hard thing for any elected official to say. We have to start understanding why people may not have the same views as us.
Parisse Dawkins, a protester who spoke at the event, shared her own experience of racial epithets being used against her while she was playing youth soccer. I believe those who have a hard time understanding why Black people are fighting to be heard may benefit from a few lessons on racial inequality, she said. Whether you prefer books, movies, songs, or virtual classes, there are free resources available for all, and that is just a beginners guide.