logo
Google Play App Store
Log In Subscribe Eeditions
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
Bigotry Accusations Levied Against Garwood Candidate
News
LAUREN S. BARR on
September 9, 2020
Bigotry Accusations Levied Against Garwood Candidate

GARWOOD – Last week, InsiderNJ.com ran an article noting congressional candidate and state Senator Tom Kean Jr.’s attendance at a fundraiser for Garwood Republican Candidates Joe Nicastro and Jesse Wilson. The article highlighted Facebook posts shared by Mr. Wilson and an account holder named “Jerome Biggums” that were posted in a Facebook group called “Cranford Uncensored.” The posts in the article depict a woman kissing a man’s foot, looters with the caption “mourning over the loss of George Floyd” and a photo of white people in chains with the caption “White Guilt – the new virus in America.” Since the posts came to light, social media erupted, and while the Garwood GOP continues to back Mr. Wilson, Senator Kean and Republican Freeholder Candidate Joe Sarno have called for Mr. Wilson to step off the ticket.

In an email to The Westfield Leader, Mr. Wilson denied that he is a white supremacist, racist, or homophobic, stating, “I’m not a racist, I find it completely absurd. I’ve been dating a woman of color for the last four or five months and these false allegations have put extreme stress in our relationship to the point where she is afraid to speak out or be seen with me. I take this allegation very seriously and will be pursuing a legal case against people involved. I am not homophobic. I stand against the sexualizing of children on any level. Kids don’t need to learn homosexual history, and young girls shouldn’t be losing scholarships to transgender boys. Leave the kids alone.”

Mr. Wilson was arrested in 2006, and plead guilty in 2007 to possession of over 50 grams and under 1 pound of marijuana with intent to distribute. He served 3-years of probation. “I have made mistakes in the past, I inhaled, and I got caught doing so, well over a decade ago when laws were much stricter. Nonetheless, it was against the law and I’m sorry for what I did. I learned from that mistake, I got into construction and started my own business, I bought a house and started my life. I moved forward with my life and made myself a better person. Isn’t that what life is about? None of us should be judged on our worst moment, but who we became after.”

Garwood Mayor Sara Todisco said in a letter to The Leader, “For those who think this is just politics. I assure you it is not. I will call out and stand against racism, bigotry, homophobia, anti-Semitism, and any other form of hate if displayed in Garwood. Sadly, we have seen other recent acts of hate in other nearby towns and their local leaders have spoken out. Garwood’s leaders will, too.”

Democrat Candidates Russ Graham and Vincent Kearney, who are running against Mr. Wilson and Mr. Nicastro, said in a letter, “Mr. Wilson has shown himself, through a litany of now widely shared social media posts, to be racist, misogynistic, homophobic and trans-phobic. This is not the Garwood we know, nor will we stand by and watch Garwood become any of these things or be painted with that brush by anyone, let alone a Council candidate.”

The Jerome Biggums profile depicted by multiple news outlets has been removed from Facebook as have the comments made by that account in the Cranford Uncensored group. Despite questions from multiple group users and now The Westfield Leader, Mr. Wilson neither confirmed nor denied that he was behind the “Jerome Biggums” account. He did tell The Leader that there are many Jerome Biggums accounts and that “Apparently my likeness has been used on one or several as has the Mayor of Garwood holding an assault rifle.”

When asked if any of this has changed his mind about running for council, Mr. Wilson told The Leader, “It has made me stronger and more resilient. Now more than ever I believe it is important for a regular guy like me to win and represent the people of Garwood.”

Mr. Wilson also said, “Tom Malinowski is a coward and liar. Tom Kean is weak, caving to the mob without notifying any of the Republicans in Garwood of their emotional and irrational response to the Leftist mob lies. Apparently these two men have too much to lose to openly speak the truth. Garwood Mayor Sara Todisco was just a pawn in their game. This is a very sad commentary on the leadership in this town.”

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Most Read
Residents Ask for Westfield’s DEI to Combat Anti-Semitism
Main, News
Residents Ask for Westfield’s DEI to Combat Anti-Semitism
By KATIE MOEN 
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
WESTFIELD — On Tuesday, during a regular meeting of the Westfield Board of Education, numerous parents and local residents stepped to the podium to ur...
this is a test
Two Municipal Elections Remain Undecided
Main, News
Two Municipal Elections Remain Undecided
By KATIE MOEN 
Thursday, November 16, 2023
AREA—As Union County officials are still working to count this year’s final round of mail-in ballots, two municipal elections — one in Garwood and ano...
this is a test
Raiders Won First, Finished Football Season on High Note
Sports
Raiders Won First, Finished Football Season on High Note
By DAVID B. CORBIN 
Thursday, November 23, 2023
TEAM CAPTAINS - RICCA, ROMANO, DELCORE, MUNDLEExperiencing a season of turmoil, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School football team endured it all and...
this is a test
Clark Mayor Charged With Fraud, Official Misconduct
Main, News
Clark Mayor Charged With Fraud, Official Misconduct
By KATIE MOEN 
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
CLARK — Clark’s longtime mayor, Sal Bonaccorso, could be facing more than 15 years in state prison in connection with official charges of fraud, misco...
this is a test
Letters to the Editor
Law Professor Takes Issue With Leader Editorial
Matthew L. Schafer Westfield 
Thursday, November 16, 2023
I’ve practiced FirstAmendment law for more than a decade–first, in D.C. and now in New York. I’ve represented newspapers from New York to Australia. I...
this is a test
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader