New Jersey's first Sikh mayor is getting death threats

Hoboken mayor Ravi Bhalla says death threats have been made against him and his family.



From NJ.com: Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla is publicly acknowledging death threats that have made against him and his family.

In a statement issued Friday afternoon following a security breach at City Hall Thursday, Bhalla said he and his family have been threatened and that the city is working with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force to improve security at City Hall.

"This incident, along with death threats to me and my family, is an unfortunate reminder that we need to take security seriously," Bhalla said.

More here: Hoboken mayor says death threats have been made against him, family

Ravi Bhalla elected New Jersey's first Sikh mayor

Hoboken city councilman emerges victorious after racist fliers called him a "terrorist."


The Jersey Journal
Awwww yeah. Take that, racists! The Hoboken councilman who was targeted with a racist flier calling him a "terrorist" has won the city's mayoral race, becoming the first Sikh mayor in the state of New Jersey.

Just days before the election, fliers attacking Ravi Bhalla were anonymously placed on car windshields in the mid-town area, warning "Don't let TERRORISM take over our Town!" above a picture of Bhalla, who is Indian American and wears a turban and unshorn beard in accordance with his Sikh faith.

The fliers appear to have been a modified version of a mailer previously sent by the campaign of mayoral opponent Michael DeFusco, claiming that Bhalla had an alleged conflict of interest. DeFusco denounced the fliers, saying his campaign had nothing to do with them. Whoever's responsible -- surprise, racists are anonymous cowards -- they were probably pretty disappointed with the election results.

On Tuesday, Bhalla emerged the historic winner atop a field of six candidates, garnering 34 percent of the vote. Congratulations to Ravi Bhalla, the first Sikh to be elected mayor of a New Jersey municipality. About time.

More here: Ravi Bhalla wins Hoboken election, becomes N.J.'s first Sikh mayor