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Editor, Asbury Park Sun,

The Asbury Park−Neptune chapter of the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, condemns the hateful beliefs and contorted falsehoods contained in the recent anti-Semitic and racist flyers posted in Asbury Park, NJ. While we fully support the first amendment right of freedom of speech, we have and always will stand against hatred and discrimination in all its myriad forms.

Vanguard America is listed on the posters as the originator, along with a website that WordPress pulled two days after the Charlottesville rally. Before the website was removed, the Southern Poverty Law Center posted the Vanguard America Manifesto. This manifesto calls for, “a nation exclusively for the White American peoples…” Further, they state, “we realize that equality does not exist in nature, and a government based in the natural law must not cater to the false notions of equality”. We summarily reject this hateful, divisive language.

Additionally, the flyers are not an isolated incident. This year, Vanguard America posters have been recorded at Texas Christian University, University of Maryland, and in the city of Alexandria VA, among 41 colleges and cities. The white supremacists are recruiting.

James Fields, the alleged driver in the deadly Charlottesville crash, marched with Vanguard America in the Charlottesville rally. Vanguard America denies that he is a member. There is strength in our diversity in Asbury Park and Neptune, and we must stand strongly as a united community against such divisiveness.

“If the white supremacists were truly supreme, there would be no need for them to engage in acts or expressions of racial or religious hatred,” said Adrienne Sanders, President of the NAACP Asbury Park-Neptune chapter. “Only the weak and insecure have the need to indulge in such a derogatory manner.”

The Asbury Park-Neptune NAACP calls for everyone to participate in the locally organized Stand Against Hate Rally on Labor Day to show their support. We applaud the thorough investigation being undertaken by Asbury Park Mayor John Moor and the Asbury Park police department. We will continue to work to take legal and community action against the acts of hate that threaten our society and our humanity.

Founded in 1927, the Asbury Park-Neptune chapter of the NAACP is a premier advocate for civil rights in our community. Learn more about us online and on Facebook. The Asbury Park-Neptune chapter received its charter in 1947 from the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas here.

Maureen Shaffer, Communications, Press & Publicity Chair

[These letters represents the opinion of its writer and is not representative of any opinion of the Asbury Park Sun staff. All readers are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor to news@asburyparksun.com for our consideration. For guidelines on letter-writing and submission, click here.]

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