Muslim Civic Coalition Hosts Its First Governor’s Forum – Fulop IHRA Flip Flop: He Now Supports Fascist Proposed Law
April 11, 2025
Special to FightBackBetter
Mikie Sherrill Cancels
Sean Spiller, Ras Baraka, Steve Fulop, and Bill Spadea Show Up
After about 30 min of technical difficulties with the original debate platform, the moderators- Sami Shaban of NJ Muslim Coalition and Franklin Board of Ed Member, Haliema Twam of PACC, and Saad Admani of NJ Muslim Lawyers Association, switched to Zoom and got the first ever Muslim-centered NJ gubernatorial forum started.
Over 200 participants listened to the moderators ask pre-written questions directed to each candidate, who was then given ample time to answer. Steve Fulop was slated to go first, but due to the delay in the program, he ended up taking up the last debate spot. Mikie Sherrill was also notably absent, although she was slated to speak. Rumor has it she canceled last minute when she found out Gottheimer called for a DOJ Investigation into PACC- one of the event sponsors- for alleged ties with PFLP (doesn’t mean the DOJ will investigate), see Fbb April 7 article for all the details of the Gott DOJ debacle.
With Sherrill out, NJEA President and former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, answered each of the questions succinctly and with ease. If this editor is being honest, the best performance of the night goes to Sean Spiller- and I was not expecting that. Next up, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka took virtual center stage, answering the questions in circles and not really making any sense. The editor wishes they would answer questions more directly, stating that even if they rewound and listened on half speed, they would not “understand what [Baraka] was trying to say.”
After that was the cherry on top was Republican candidate, Bill Spadea. If this forum needed some comical relief, this was it. As Bill literally gave the opposite answer that everyone listening would’ve wanted. “No Immigrant Trust Act. No DEI. More police, more deportations.” As he explained, he doesn’t change his messaging for any crowd. Ok. He was the only Republican to agree to do the debate, so there’s that.
Last up was Jersey City Mayor Fulop who had nothing but praise for his accomplishments as Jersey City Mayor, saying that he has always been a friend to the Muslim community. The bombshell of the night, which must be explored further and prodded, is when Fulop seemed to flip flop on IHRA, stating very clearly that he would “not veto IHRA if if comes to [his] desk.” (FightBack Better was first to report when he initially flipped from pro-IHRA to pledging to veto any IHRA bill passed – now he has come full circle and back to supporting the fascist proposed legislation.)
So what was the conclusion of the 1st Muslim Governors’ Forum? Highly entertaining and enlightening for this editor. It made me wanting to hear more from Spiller, and definitely clarify with Fulop what this flip flop is about. And will we ever get a straight answer from Ras Baraka? And Bill Spadea. No comment. 10/10 would do again. Thanks to the rockstar moderators.
