TRENTON – Senator Jim Beach (D-Burlington, Camden) released the following statement on the bomb threat Monday that forced the evacuation of a Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill and numerous others across the country:
“The threats on Jewish Community Centers across the country and in our region, including the bomb threat this morning in Cherry Hill, are despicable acts of terror meant to instill fear and anxiety, both within our Jewish communities and beyond. We must all stand firm in denouncing these acts and threats in New Jersey by embracing our diversity and refusing to accept or condone anti-Semitism and hate in any form.
“Today’s event underscores the need to provide assistance to South Jersey nonprofit institutions that are most vulnerable to hate crimes and terrorist attacks. State funding could help enable synagogues, day schools, and other religious institutions and nonprofits to update their security systems and take other measures to enhance safety.
“We must be relentless against those who cultivate hatred based on differences in political ideas, religious beliefs, sexual identity, customs, origin, skin color or based on any other reason. Those who commit these vile acts pose a threat to our community. They must be held accountable and brought to justice.”
Last year, Senator Beach sponsored a Budget Resolution to appropriate $600,000 to the Department of Law and Public Safety Homeland Security Grants (non-UASI) to be used for this purpose. The measure was line-item vetoed.