EXCLUSIVE: Central Jersey Leaders Show Support for Middletown BOE at Court
A who's who of NJ Republicans, protestors, rally at the Monmouth County Courthouse
FREEHOLD - The scene outside the Monmouth County Courthouse could be considered the opening act for November’s elections. Parent’s rights protestors show up in Freehold to voice their support for the Middletown Board of Education. The Monmouth Board had their injunction hearing against the State of New Jersey which alleges that their transgender policy is discriminatory, effectively “outing” students.
“It was a good day, I believe,” said Board President Frank Capone. “I really question the fact that the state did actually read our policy….this is the furthest [from] an ‘outing’ policy.”
Echoing the sentiments was the Board’s Vice-President Jacqueline Tobacco who posed a powerful question to Governor Murphy and Attorney General Platkin:
“are you going to indemnify school districts if, in the case of a tragic outcome, we have not notified parents that children were struggling with gender dysphoria, or transgender issues, with bullying in school because of their gender identity….I don’t believe any parent in Middletown would accept that we kept secrets from them regarding their child’s health and well-being.”
Rallying outside the courthouse were over 100 parents that heard from elected officials and activists.
Steve Dnistrian, the opponent of senator Vin Gopal in District 11 - the legislative architect of the controversial sex-ed policies - opened the rally decrying government ripping the bond between child and parents. Fellow LD-11 running mate, Assemblywoman Kim Eulner, called on her fellow leaders to return to kitchen tables issues, harkening back to former republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli who was also in attendance.
LD-13 Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger of Middletown asked the crowd to think back a decade ago: “could you ever have envisioned being here fighting for your right to know something about your minor child?”
Jack Ciattarelli shot back at his 2021 opponent, Governor Phil Murphy, saying “show me one person that is a-ok with a school district keeping a secret from the parents.”
“There’s only one person who believe this,” he added. “Phil Murphy.” He then added AG Platkin to the list of secret keepers, “who’s going to lose today in this courthouse.”
Bringing it on home was Nikki Stouffer, the parental rights advocate and founder of the New Jersey Project, one the day’s organizers. Stouffer reflected on her group’s efforts to recruit “Parent First, Child First” Board of Education candidates before taking aim at the NJEA:
"For too long the NJEA has plants [and] have dominated….bringing forward whatever the Democratic party says.”
The otherwise peaceful protest presented only one incident. Stouffer confronted Michael Gottesman of the NJ Public Education Curriculum. Gottesman, a former attorney turned trans-rights activist, came within inches of Stouffer’s face before being broken up by a fellow activist.
Other republican candidates lent their voices and manpower to rally support for Middletown and the parental rights advocates. Darius Mayfield, challenging incumbent Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-13th) spoke to the crowd. U.S Senate candidates Gregg Mele and Shirley Maia-Cusick also made rounds talking to leaders and officials.
Middletown now awaits the results of their hearing which can come any day.