Jackson, NJ — A Jackson Township resident filed a police report after a child shouted a racial slur, the “N-Word” with the hard R, at him during an encounter on a residential street Sunday evening, an incident that was captured clearly on his vehicle’s dash camera. The report, now under review by Jackson Police, stems from a confrontation that occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Partree Road in the Oakley Hill section of town.
The Jackson Police Department has not commented on the matter.
In recent years, bias and intimidation incidents in Jackson and across New Jersey have grown and this time, the man says, it’s no different when the shoe is on the other foot.
The man, who asked not to be publicly identified in this article, told police he was driving home when he encountered a group of children playing basketball in the street. Many of the children moved, but one seemed to hesitate. After lightly tapping his horn to alert the boy, one of the boys said, “Calm down, n—-r!”
The man said he immediately reported the incident to the Jackson Police Department and later provided dashcam footage that he says clearly captured the remark.
“I am shocked by the actions of the individual shown in the video,” said Shlomo Schorr, Director of Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey chapter. “Acts of bias have no place in our communities.”
He said the incident left him shaken and upset, not expecting something like this to happen in a diverse community such as Jackson where bias and intimidation incidents are often a very sensitive topic. He’s hoping that the incident could be resolved as he feels it would if the situation was reversed.
In the past, Jackson teenagers who made antisemitic statements and comments were blasted across Lakewood based media sites. In some cases, their parents have been doxxed.
The department has not publicly identified any individuals involved, and the case remains under review.
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Key Points
• Jackson resident reports racial slur shouted during street encounter with children
• Incident occurred May 3 around 6:30 p.m. on Partree Road
• Police investigating after receiving dashcam video evidence
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Community tensions and broader concerns
The resident said the incident left him shaken, particularly given his involvement in local efforts to promote inclusion within the township. He previously served on Jackson’s Multicultural Committee, which focuses on fostering unity and diversity within the township. He doesn’t expect any charges to be filed, but hopes the incident can began a process of education and understanding. As for an apology, he’s not sure it would be sincere.
He also pointed to recent demographic changes in parts of Jackson, including the Oakley Hill neighborhood, where he said tensions have occasionally surfaced as communities evolve and continue to change, hoping that this incident is an isolated incident and not part of anything larger brewing in the neighborhood.
The man emphasized he is not seeking escalation but wants awareness about the incident and its broader implications and to have the Jackson community at large learn a lesson from this incident. He said it’s something that is becoming a part of life for some in the community.