Full Notification

            On Monday, October 3, 2022, Teaneck Township was proud to host along with our Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) a hearing by the House Homeland Security Committee in the Township Council Chambers. The committee listened to testimony and asked questions of the expert witnesses on the current state of extremism and antisemitism here in New Jersey and across the country.

            Expert witnesses included New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Laurie Doran, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Regional Director for New York and New Jersey Scott Richman, Rutgers Hillel Interim Executive Director Rabbi Esther Reed, Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Project Director Susan Corke, Bard College Center for the Study of Hate Director Kenneth Stern, and American Jewish Committee U.S. Director for Combating Antisemitism Holly Huffnagle.

            Gottheimer was joined by Committee Vice Chair Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Rep. Jim Langevin (RI-2), Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), Rep. Al Green (TX-9), and Rep. Tom Malinowski (NJ-9).
Congressman Gottheimer also announced the introduction of a new bill: The  “Freezing Assets of Suspected Terrorists and Enemy Recruits (FASTER) Act” that looks to freeze the assets of ISIS inspired, lone wolf terrorists or other domestic extremists that are arrested on American Soil. Topics covered include how extremism has been fueled by social media, the rising number of anti-Semitic events both in New Jersey and around the nation and what action is needed by the federal government to combat extremism.

            “This hearing was important to highlight the rising levels of extremist thought and antisemitism that threatens our American society and its values of acceptance, inclusion and equity for all” said Mayor Jim Dunleavy who attended the hearing along with Councilmembers Karen Orgen, Michael Pagan, Gervonn Romney-Rice, and Township Manager Dean Kazinci.