help us advocate for mahwah township to fly the pride flag

     Hate and White Supremacists came to Mahwah to disrupt our 2nd Annual Mahwah Pride Celebration on June 13th. The Township of Mahwah proclaims to welcome everyone so this incursion against the LGBTQ+ population could not be glossed over. On July 7th the Mahwah Pride Coalition went to the Township Council asking for three actions to ensure Mahwah lived up to its claims: a Resolution Condemning Expressions and Crimes of Hate That Divide and Threaten Our Members of Our Community, an ordinance against sound amplification without a permit, and the establishment of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission. The officials agreed to the first two, issuing a Resolution on August 11th.

To foster inclusiveness and community, the Mahwah Pride Coalition hosts an Annual Pride Celebration, with entertainment, resources, and activities for familes and children. Unfortunately a national campaign of lies and slander begun a week earlier by a California bigot and promoted by a prominent Mahwah resident through social media and the delivery of hate flyers to local residents’ doors ended with a small group of far-right agitators standing on an adjacent sidewalk, yelling and impeding the enjoyment of the parents and children who had chosen to attend our event. We only learned later that the protesters were from the White Life Matters NJ hate group after they were called out by the Anti-Defamation League in an article about Extremists Targeting LGBTQ activities. 

Mahwah Pride reached out to police and township officials in advance to ensure safety, but that did not mitigate the fears their hate filled speech and close proximity to our event caused. Parents had to prepare their young children to insulate them from the damage that could be wrought by the protesters terrifying them, in the protesting hate group’s misguided mission to “save the children.” 

Mahwah Township Council President David May’s response to Mahwah Pride Coalition Director Susan Steinberg’s request was that the town didn’t support hate groups. She followed up with a request that the response be in writing with a full vote from all council members. His agreement that a Resolution could be made was questioned by Councilwoman Janet Ariemma who questioned “But why would Mahwah support hate groups?” implying it wasn’t necessary. Mr. May responded “That’s why I have no problem passing a resolution saying that,” chuckling. Councilman Robert Ferguson, chair of the Ordinance Committee, also confirmed that they would begin work on an ordinance to block use of mechanized sound amplification without a permit.

On August 11th, 2022, the Resolution: Condemning Expressions and Crimes of Hate That Divide and Threaten Our Members of Our Community was presented and approved by the Mahwah Township Council unanimously without discussion.