Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a candidate for the 2025 Democratic nomination for New Jersey governor, is under fire for her response to an alarming incident of harassment and vandalism outside a Reform synagogue in her district, where pro-Palestinian protesters targeted congregants with hateful rhetoric and defaced synagogue property with graffiti. Despite condemning the act, Sherrill notably refrained from labeling it as antisemitic, sparking outrage among community members and inviting condemnation from political opponents.
The protest occurred on Sunday outside Oheb Shalom synagogue in South Orange, where members of an IDF search-and-rescue unit were presenting. Protesters shouted “baby killers” at attendees and spray-painted “terrorists this way,” with an arrow pointing to the synagogue. Local authorities, including police and the prosecutor’s office, are treating the incident as a bias crime.
In her statement, Sherrill said, “Although we must ensure space for First Amendment activities, going onto private property and spray painting ‘terrorists this way’ is not only a crime but is contrary to the values we share as a diverse community.” However, she avoided explicitly condemning the incident as antisemitism.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli slammed Sherrill on social media, writing, “A group vandalizes a synagogue and harasses families on their way to pray in her district, and Sherrill’s first act is to jump to the defense of THEIR First Amendment rights? Why can’t she say the word ‘antisemitism?’”
Ciattarelli also referenced Sherrill’s past actions, noting that she “ducked” a bipartisan vote to stand with Israel, calling her response “pandering to her extreme left base.”
Sherrill has previously come under fire for being “thrilled” to accept the endorsement of Patricia Campos-Medina, a leading anti-Israel activist in New Jersey.