At the October 13th, 2025, East Brunswick Town Council meeting, residents witnessed something that no community should ever experience: hate speech allowed to continue in our municipal chambers. What unfolded wasn’t a heated political debate — it was the normalization of bigotry under the guise of free speech, permitted by the very person responsible for maintaining order and respect.
Early in the public portion, Fran Snowise took the podium and delivered a thoughtful reminder about civility and responsibility.
“Recent council meetings, and even tonight, are featuring language and accusations that cross a crucial line,” Snowise said. “Free speech allows for the open exchange of ideas… hate speech targets individuals or groups using language intended to vilify, humiliate, or incite hatred. This is not just offensive, it’s dangerous, and it’s eroding our community fabric.”
Snowise urged the council to adopt a code of conduct for meetings — one that would set clear expectations for respectful discourse, including a prohibition on personal attacks and hateful language. It was a plea for decency, and one that should have been heeded immediately.
Just moments later, another resident took the microphone and proved exactly why that warning was necessary. The speaker, who identified herself only by her street name, accused Israel of being involved in “a live-streamed Holocaust of Palestinians,” calling Israelis “terrorists,” “baby killers,” and “rapists.” She claimed:
“People who are living there don’t belong to that land… Israeli terrorists killed babies, bombing them while they slept… They know if one Palestinian survives, Israel will never be at peace.”
Her remarks escalated further — blaming “Israeli terrorists” for war crimes, claiming they “control the U.S. government,” and even accusing Council President Kevin T. McEvoy himself of being “complicit in this Holocaust.”
Those are not political opinions. They are hate-fueled accusations rooted in long-standing antisemitic tropes — the kind of rhetoric that tears communities apart and endangers residents right here at home.
When the hateful remarks continued, instead of intervening to stop them, Council President McEvoy responded:
“First Amendment rights are recognized here. I beg your pardon, you may continue.”
In that moment, McEvoy didn’t defend free speech — he allowed hate speech to continue unchecked. East Brunswick’s own policy explicitly forbids “personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks.” New Jersey law requires presiding officials to bar discriminatory or harassing statements that target protected groups. McEvoy’s refusal to act violated both.
Allowing such remarks in our council chambers is not a neutral act. It sends a message that hate has a place in East Brunswick’s public square. It makes Jewish residents feel unsafe. It tells every minority that their dignity is negotiable, depending on who’s at the microphone.
After the exchange, another resident — whose name was not clearly heard on the recording — stepped forward to make a different kind of appeal. His tone was calm and constructive. He spoke about the need for true community dialogue and warned that without spaces for open conversation, division will only deepen.
“If we want the fabric where neighbors talk to neighbors, let’s create that space,” he said. “Mayor Cohen has heard that from some of us, but unfortunately no one has taken it upon themselves. As a township, I’m afraid we are not creating those spaces where we can have those conversations. Otherwise, these disagreements are going to bubble up. Let’s hear each other out in a civil manner, even when we disagree — over a cup of coffee or tea or whatever it takes.”
His words reminded everyone that while residents may hold differing views, there is a shared longing for civility and connection — a desire for leaders to foster understanding rather than allow meetings to devolve into hostility.
East Brunswick is better than this. We are a town known for inclusion, compassion, and community spirit — not for silence in the face of hatred.
Council President McEvoy failed in his most basic duty: to protect the integrity of public discourse and the safety of our residents. His inaction during this meeting was more than a lapse in judgment — it was a violation of the public trust.
The East Brunswick community deserves acknowledgment and accountability. We call on Council President McEvoy to issue a public apology to the residents of this town and to the Jewish community for allowing hate speech to continue unchecked in a public forum.
We also urge the entire Town Council to adopt clear meeting guidelines and training to ensure this never happens again. Every person on that dais — the council members, the township attorney, and Mayor Cohen — had the ability to speak up or advise the Council President when the line was crossed.
Hate speech is not protected in our council chambers, and it never should be. If we allow it to stand, we risk losing the very character that makes East Brunswick strong — our unity, our empathy, and our shared commitment to one another.
This video picks up right as Fran Snowise takes the podium, followed by the next speakers.
Editor’s Note: All quotes in this article were transcribed directly from the publicly available video recording of the October 2025 East Brunswick Town Council meeting. While not an official transcript, every effort has been made to ensure accuracy.
