With lit candles in their hands, about 70 Lawrence Township residents gathered to disavow the racism shown toward several young girls who were victimized in a bias incident at the Lawrence High School football game last week.
The vigil, held on the evening of Oct. 23 in front of the Lawrence Township Municipal Building, was intended to show that the incident was not typical of the community. Clergy and elected officials offered remarks to that effect.
Speaking as a Lawrence Township resident and not as the municipal manager, Kevin Nerwinski said he was upset over the incident at the Oct. 18 football game between two Lawrence High School students and a group of black Lawrence Middle School students.
The 17-year-old boys, who are both of Indian descent, mocked young black girls and allegedly used the “n-word.” One of the boys allegedly urinated on one of the girls. Both boys have been arrested and charges have been filed, police said.
“I know that when you heard about the incident, it stopped you in your tracks,” Nerwinski said to the attendees at the vigil.
“It jarred your sense of community and your sense of peace. It caused you to feel a range of emotions that included anger, outrage, sadness, frustration and hopelessness. It is what I felt,” Nerwinski said.
Nerwinski said he wanted to do something in response to the bias incident, and organized the candlelight vigil “to make a singular statement that says we reject hatred, we reject racism and bigotry in all forms.”
“We are here because we care for one another and for the young girls who were victimized by racist and despicable acts,” he said.
Nerwinski said he has heard from many people that what happened at the football game is not “our community” and “it is not who we are.” But for the young girls, “on that night, it was their community and we need to own it as ours, despite how uncomfortable it may make us feel,” he said.
“We cannot forget or dismiss this,” Nerwinski said.
Admitting that he cannot possibly know how it felt to be victimized by racism and hatred, Nerwinski called on residents to take some personal responsibility for change and to “call out” racism and bigotry when they see it.
Parents need to teach their children to reject racism and bigotry and perhaps, over time, things will change, Nerwinski said.
Clergy from several religious denominations – Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Baha’i, Baptist and Muslim – stood shoulder to shoulder on the front steps of the Lawrence Township Municipal Building and rejected the behavior displayed by the two boys.
“Each of us struggles with emotions. Be mindful of the words you use. Avoid revenge by doing good to the ones who harmed you,” said Rabbi Brad Hoffman, who was standing in for Rabbi Benjamin Adler of Adath Israel Congregation.
Imam Sulaiman Yusufi of the Islamic Circle of Mercer County said the United States is a nation built on diversity. Reading the account of the incident “made me tear up inside. At the end of the day, we are all human,” he said.
“If you know the family (whose child was victimized), reach out to them,” the imam said.
State Senator Shirley K. Turner, who lives in Lawrence Township, called on the attendees to “let your candles shine bright. That’s what we need today. If everyone lights one little candle, what a bright world this would be.”
“When I read the newspaper article, it was so disgusting, so despicable for these young girls that I am sure it has left an indelible imprint on them,” said Turner, who represents Mercer and Hunterdon counties.
“Hate, racism and bigotry have no place in Lawrence Township. This is a wake-up call. There are still battles to fight,” Turner said, adding that families can use the bias incident as a “teachable moment.”
Quoting the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, who often said “we are better than this,” Turner said that Lawrence Township is, in fact, “better than this. The rest of the world will look to Lawrence. We are a shining example.”