PRESS RELEASE

Razzoli to Watson Coleman: Withdraw the Divisive and Racially charged Statement

Old Bridge Councilman Mark Razzoli called for unity and called on Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman to withdraw the divisive and racially charged statement in the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Watson Coleman in a Friday press release stated that persons of color are not safe in the presence of police officers.

During times of crisis, true leadership will set an example by both promoting civility and offering solutions to advance our society. Rep. Watson Coleman should be ashamed of her comments. A member of the House of Representatives should not be dividing communities and certainly not make statements that could incite violence towards members of law-enforcement or the community at large. Bonnie Watson Coleman should withdraw her statement.

As Americans we should be outraged at the abuse of power and extraordinary level of misconduct that resulted in the death of George Floyd. As a Retired Detective in Jersey City, the state’s most diverse city, my job, my oath, was and is to serve and protect – all citizens. Public safety is critical for everyone, regardless of race, creed or gender.

We as Americans need to make changes. That starts with unity not division.

Like all Americans, every good cop in America is outraged about what happened in Minneapolis, and we should all remember and mourn for George Floyd, for his family and for the community.

Mark Razzoli is the presumptive Republican nominee for House of Representatives in New Jersey’s Twelfth Congressional District, which covers parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Union Counties. Razzoli is a retired Jersey City Police Detective, who represents Old Bridge’s Fourth Ward on the Old Bridge Township Council.