New Jersey Democrat Urged to Resign After Mocking Easter in Online Post

A Democratic councilwoman in Glen Rock, New Jersey, faces calls for resignation following backlash over a social media post that mocked Easter with references to drag and abortion.

The meme shared by Glen Rock Borough Councilwoman Paula Gilligan on Instagram last week stated, "Easter eggs are aborted chicken babies that are painted in drag for small children to worship."

New Jersey Democrat facing pressure to resign after mocking Easter online with drag, abortion references https://t.co/6dfMgfVoBA

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Community members, particularly Christians, swiftly criticized Gilligan, demanding an apology and her resignation from Glen Rock's all-Democrat, all-female council. Some plan to protest at the next council meeting on Wednesday night.

In response, Gilligan issued an apology, stating, "It has come to my attention that there are constituents in Glen Rock that have concerns with a meme on my personal Instagram story."

She clarified that the meme aimed to critique "personhood" laws regarding fetuses' legal rights but acknowledged that it inadvertently offended Easter traditions.

Gilligan's posting and subsequent apology occurred shortly after residents gathered on March 9 to stand against antisemitism following vandalism incidents in Glen Rock.

The mayor and other council members issued a statement apologizing to the offended community members, emphasizing respect for religious beliefs and traditions.

"We have been made aware of a post that appeared on one of our Council Member’s personal Instagram stories. This post invoked Easter, the holiest day of the year in the Christian calendar, in a point about two issues that have nothing to do with Easter," the statement said.

"We all feel very strongly that everyone’s religious beliefs and traditions must be treated with respect. They should not be the subject of jokes or inflammatory social media posts. That is even more true when the social media post is made by an elected official, because we are here to represent and support all Glen Rockers of all religious beliefs and backgrounds," it added.

As of now, Gilligan has not indicated whether she will resign and did not respond to requests for comment. Local Republican leader Barry Wilkes expressed dismay over Gilligan's actions and called for community members to attend the council meeting in protest.

Wilkes described the incident as divisive and hypocritical, emphasizing the need for elected officials who uphold community trust. He also mentioned the possibility of launching a recall effort against Gilligan.