Suggested reading by Prof. Sabrin
FLEMINGTON - State Sen. Michael Doherty began his speech at Hunterdon County’s annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Friday morning by praising the first responders who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
Then the senator turned to politics, saying systemic racism doesn’t exist in the United States and calling the Black Lives Matter movement a Marxist organization.
“These demands to defund the police are based upon allegations of systemic racism being thrown about by Marxist organizations, such as Black Lives Matter, which have burned cities, burned churches, destroyed private property and terrorized American citizens,” Doherty, R-23rd, said on the steps on the Historic Courthouse on Flemington’s Main Street.
“Are we a civilized society under the rule of law or not? The call to defund the police is part of an agenda that seeks to create chaos and mayhem in the United States,” he continued. “These forces want the police out of the way so that the lawless agenda can be fully implemented. The only thing standing in the way is the blue line.”"Is it systemic racism when an African American, Barack Obama, is elected twice as president of the United States?” Doherty said.
Doherty asked if systemic racism is defined as providing "free, taxpayer-funded health care for anyone who cannot afford it, regardless of race?" "Is it systemic racism to provide free, taxpayer-funded food vouchers for those who cannot afford food, regardless of race? "He said "the list continues."
"Free, taxpayer-funded heat, electricity, cell phones, internet regardless of race," he said. "The same applies here in New Jersey. There is no systemic racism." He said systemically racist state would not have "laws and court orders that transfer billions of dollars every year from suburban taxpayers to urban areas to fund poorer schools, regardless of race.""Would a systemically racist state provide taxpayer-funded housing for the poor, regardless of race?" he said. "Would a systemically racist state have hiring preferences for minorities written into the law?"
"The United States does not have systemic racism," he added. "It is an evil lie. We must have the courage to oppose these wicked, baseless allegations." READ: Gov. Phil Murphy is ‘eviscerating’ the Constitution, Doherty says.
Doherty said that despite the 19 years that have passed since Sept. 11, 2001, nothing has changed.“Nineteen years ago, police and fire climbed into those towers with one selfless unified mission, and that was to save human lives, regardless of race. And nothing has changed since that day.”New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District includes parts of Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties.
