Hate speech at City Hall

I would like to denounce the racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic comments that were spoken by Divine Allah, an invited representative of City Council President Kathy McBride at her rally held at the steps of City Hall on Friday February 26, 2021.

A representative of the City Council President stood on the steps of City Hall, in front of a crowd, with the Council President in attendance and spoke the most hateful, racist and anti-Semitic comments I have ever heard at a public gathering in Trenton and nothing was done to stop it.

Council President Kathy McBride celebrated these comments, adding them to her social media timeline so that people could view, listen to and comment on what was said.

Judging by her silence that day and days following, it is reasonable to assume Kathy McBride approves of, and endorses such hate speech.

To date, Council President Kathy McBride has not even issued a statement condemning the words that were used or distancing herself from the racist and anti-Semitic speech by her invited representative.

To stand on the steps of City Hall and endorse that kind of speech is something no Trentonian should have to tolerate and brings into question Kathy McBride’s ability to govern without prejudice and bias toward groups that reside in the city.

To add to the outrage, this was done in front of young children enlisted to hold signs during this event.

What kind of example is being set for them?

What are they learning from hearing such hate?

What are they learning by seeing adults tolerate and celebrate this kind of speech?

I am also addressing members of Council, local government, Community leaders and faith-based leaders who have said nothing about this hate speech after it occurred.

You are just as responsible for standing on the right side of speech like this and through your silence you endorse such behavior or willfully try to ignore it which is just as abhorrent.

In fact, the behavior exhibited by some on Council over the last 2 plus years feeds directly into the narrative of what was witnessed at the rally for Kathy McBride. You are not exempt from this either. Your words shape the narrative in Trenton and the example you set is a very low bar. Trenton must be better than allowing hate speech to occur without consequence. By endorsing and spreading such hate, Kathy McBride has forfeited the privilege of assuming the role of an individual that governs in the city of Trenton. Any future political aspirations Kathy McBride has envisioned for herself should be weighed against the hate she allowed to be spoken and once her Council term is up, she should be permanently removed from any seat within the government of Trenton.

— Michael Ranallo, Trenton