10/13/2025
Statement from the West Orange Jewish Community
October 13, 2025
Earlier today, Mayor Susan McCartney, Township of West Orange released a statement regarding the November 13, 2024 protest outside a West Orange synagogue — the same incident now at the center of a Department of Justice civil rights case.
While we appreciate the Mayor’s recognition of ongoing investigations, her statement is both premature and deeply concerning. It risks creating a misleading impression of the Jewish community and undermines trust at a time when transparency and accountability are needed most.
Facts remain clear:
• The protesters did not have a permit.
• Police did not separate the groups, despite multiple requests from synagogue attendees as the protesters approached.
• The separation only occurred after a protester violently attacked a Jewish man on synagogue property. When Dr. Moshe Glick called out for police to intervene, they did not — leaving him to step in and protect the victim himself.
The West Orange Jewish Community has long valued and respected the professionalism of the West Orange Police Department. Our gratitude to the many officers who serve with integrity remains unchanged. However, there were undeniable lapses in judgment and response that night which must be acknowledged — not politicized or dismissed.
By characterizing legitimate community concerns as “politicization” and asserting that WOPD “followed all appropriate protocols” while investigations and lawsuits remain active, the Mayor’s statement gives the unfortunate impression that our community’s pain is being minimized and that questions of accountability are unwelcome.
We stand for truth, accountability, and safety for all residents. Supporting law enforcement and seeking justice are not opposing values — they are both essential to preserving the trust and security of every West Orange, NJ resident.
