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Officials, activists gather to discuss end to racial tensions
BY SULEMAN DIN
Star-Ledger Staff
A private meeting yesterday afternoon among state legislators,
"All of us deplore some of the things that have happened in our township and most of the headlines that have resulted," said Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes Jr. (D- 18th) in remarks from the meeting made public. "We know that the
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The meeting took place at Barnes's legislative office in
Barnes' remarks noted that several weeks ago he began private conversations with Kothari, Miecz kowski and Kaplan to seek solu tions to the tension. "We have been talking to ourselves about these problems and we know it is time we started talking to each other," his remarks read.
According to a second statement from Barnes' office after the meeting, attendees sketched out a plan for "extensive and broad community outreach," to build trust between the police department and Edison residents, including the Asian-Indian community.
A follow-up meeting will take place to determine how the outreach plan will work, and discuss how to better relations between
Racial tension in
Parikh was charged with hitting officer Michael Dotro and inciting others to join in the attack as the officer tried to disperse hundreds of people watching firecrackers set off at a township apartment complex, police said. Parikh, though, counter-claimed he was assaulted by Dotro.
Kothari and other Asian-Indian community members focused on Dotro's involvement in an alleged police brutality incident against two Indians last summer. Dotro was cleared in that incident, but Kothari and other Asian-Indians called for Dotro's suspension. Choi, though, stood by the officer and the department.
The rhetoric boiled over during a protest organized by Kothari outside town hall earlier this month. Asian-Indians protested against Dotro. They were met by a counter-protest of mainly white supporters of the police department. During the protests, numerous racial insults were traded, and Parikh was arrested by federal immigra tion agents.
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Officials, activists gather to discuss end to racial tensions
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Dotro was cleared of Parikh's claims the following day, when it was also revealed the
Following that revelation, Choi ordered an internal investigation of the immigration arrest. The township wanted to know "whether there was a break in the department's chain of command." The announcement upset the Police Benevolent Association, which publicly called for Choi's resignation.
All attending yesterday's meet ing agreed the resolution to Pa rikh's July 4th arrest, and his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on a deporta tion order, would be left to the legal system.
Outside the legislative office, attendees declined to comment on the details of the meeting, which started at 4 p.m.
The mayor left an hour and a half after it began.
"It was a positive conversation about bringing our community together, and I thank Assemblyman Barnes for hosting the meeting," Choi said.
Mieczkowski and Kaplan left just before 7 p.m. The county prosecutor helped organize the meet ing, Barnes noted, and is helping create plans "for real and viable channels of communication."
"It's very preliminary," Kaplan said. "Obviously, as the county's chief law enforcement office, we have an interest in the relations between the Edison police department and the community."
Suleman Din covers Edison. He may be contacted at sdin@starled ger.com, or (732) 404-8084.