“It is outrageous and despicable behavior on the part of a sitting State Senator to fund hate against Muslims and fuel divisiveness. Piscataway’s single biggest treasure is our diverse community, and for any public official or anyone seeking to represent our community to fund, support, or otherwise work to divide us along religious, racial or ethnic lines is unconscionable and shocking. This ugly behavior has no place in a Democratic Primary or in the Democratic Party.  It is certainly not the behavior of people who can stand up to Donald Trump because it is the same way Donald Trump behaves.”

The flyer claims that local incumbent Democrats are being “challenged by a radical group under the leadership of Atif Nazir.”  The flyer was targeted to Indian-American households and translated into Gujarati.   It was signed by Councilman Kapil Shah, Board of Education member Nitang Patel, and Kalpesh Patel of the Zoning Board. It has “Paid for By the Election Fund of Bob Smith” on the bottom and features a photo of the Mayor, Councilwoman Michele Lombardi and children at a public, Township-sponsored community clean up event.

“Sen. Smith and his cronies are using the same kind of dog-whistle, fear-mongering language employed by Donald Trump to cast Muslims as ‘radicals,’” said Mindy Goldstein, CJPD Treasurer and a Democratic County Committee candidate in Piscataway. “Targeting Indian-American households with this message is clearly designed to incite division between Muslim and Hindu community members here in Piscataway. It is simply unconscionable, and the opposite of what real Democrats stand for.”

“As someone from that part of the world, and knowing exactly how this plays out in our mixed communities, I find this very distasteful, disgusting and damaging towards the delicate balance of our communities’ peace in the United States. I am incensed and outraged by this cowardly act that was clearly meant to incite hatred,” said Sohail “Shawn” Butt, who is also running for Democratic County Committee in Piscataway on the CJPD ticket.

“We urge faith leaders and public officials of every background to condemn this attack on Dr. Nazir.  Sen. Smith, Kapil Shah, Nitang Patel, Kalpesh Patel, Brian Wahler, PDO Chairman Ted Light and all of their Trump-like cronies must be held accountable and should resign.  Candidates at every level – from County Committee to U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Cory Booker – who have aligned themselves with the Piscataway Democratic Organization must repudiate this attack.  Further, we need an immediate unity meeting among leaders who respect and uphold our community’s diversity, and public conversations to restore the trust that has been broken in the Democratic Party and among voters and neighbors,” said Goldstein.

“I was shocked to see this letter,” said Dr. Nazir.  “During my time as a member of the Board of Education, I helped make Piscataway the first school system in the entire United States to observe both the Diwali and Eid holidays.  All I have ever done is try to bring people together, and help people to get along better.  It is sad that Sen. Smith, Kapil Shah and others would do this.  I always promote unity, love, and peace, not like the Trump-minded Democrats who are promoting hate, fear and division. I urge all Piscataway residents to stay united and protect our community, because our diversity is our strength.”

CJPD, formed in the wake of Donald Trump’s election,  has been active in organizing against the Trump Administration and supporting progressive candidates to strengthen the Democratic Party.  It is an entirely grassroots effort, run by community volunteers and activists in the Democratic Party.