Goldsman Refuses to Quit West Orange HRC After His Islamaphobic Agenda Surfaced
Asmeret Ghebremicael, the West Orange council member who appointed Justin Goldsman to sit on the West Orange Human Relations Committee (HRC) has asked Goldsman to resign after his derogatory social media posts over the years have surfaced publicly. Goldsman is refusing to step down from the West Orange HRC.
He has already stepped down as chair of NJ’s Democratic Party Jewish Caucus. He also is no longer chief of staff to IHRA legislation sponsor in the assembly Gary Schaer. Schaer’s office refused to confirm if Goldsman was forcefully removed or if he resigned voluntarily. The following is a statement on this matter by Ms. Ghebremicael.
I want to address the concerns regarding my appointee to the Human Relations Commission, Justin Goldsman. Recently, it has come to my attention that he has made numerous offensive and derogatory social media posts over the years, including the use of racial slurs and deeply troubling remarks about various communities. Had I been aware of these statements at the time of his appointment, I would never have selected him to serve on this commission. The Human Relations Commission is intended to foster inclusion, respect, and understanding, and these remarks are entirely incompatible with that mission. Upon learning of these posts, I immediately informed Mr. Goldsman that he must resign. He refused. As a result, this past weekend, I have formally requested that the Township rescind his appointment so that I may appoint someone better suited to uphold the commission’s values. The administration is currently reviewing this request, and I will continue to push for his removal. I appreciate the community’s engagement on this matter and will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure accountability. – West Orange Council Member Asmeret Ghebremicael
