WOODBRIDGE, NJ — This week, the Woodbridge/Perth Amboy chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) joined a growing chorus of complaints about the "offensive" use of a bulldozer at the India Independence Day parade, held in Edison and Woodbridge last Sunday.

The parade, attended by thousands, was held Aug. 14. The parade was attended by prominent New Jersey lawmakers, including Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, NJ-18 Assemblyman Robert Karabinchack, state Sen. Partick Diegnan and Edison Mayor Sam Joshi and Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac.

A bulldozer, with a photo of India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, was part of the parade.

But some say the bulldozer is a symbol of the demolition of Muslim homes in India, especially in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The bulldozer became a divisive symbol in India after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party used them to demolish the homes and livelihoods of the Muslim community. Critics say the demolitions are part of a retaliatory response to Muslims protesting the Modi administration.

“The Perth Amboy branch NAACP firmly stands with CAIR-NJ, the Indian American Muslim Council, Hindus for Human Rights and all other organizations that have denounced this act of hatred against our Muslim community members," said Perth Amboy NAACP President Rev. Donna Stewart. "We call on Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac to join us in condemning Islamophobia, and to commit to begin working with the NAACP towards antiracism policy in Woodbridge Township."

So far, McCormac has not weighed in on the controversy.

But Edison town Council president Joyce Ship-Freeman and Council member Margot Harris both criticized the bulldozer at the Edison town council meeting Monday night. Also, Edison Mayor Joshi, who is Indian American, called the bulldozer "unacceptable." He is also calling for the parade organizers to apologize.

"I understand a bulldozer is a symbol of division and is absolutely unacceptable," said Joshi, according to this news site. "There is no place for that in Edison Township. I would like to see an apology from the Indian Business Association."

So far, the Indian Business Association has not said why there was a bulldozer in the parade.

Edison Councilman Nishith Patel said he was “deeply disturbed by the symbolism” of the bulldozer at the parade.

“If I knew that this would have was represented, I would have condemned it on the spot. And I would not have participated, even though it is my culture that I was celebrating,” Patel said, according to the Edison-Metuchen Patch.

The parade began at the intersection of Cinder Road and Oak Tree Road in Edison and ended at Middlesex Ave & Oak Tree Rd in Woodbridge.

The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) and the Indian American Muslim Council are asking for apologies from the Indian Business Association, which held the parade.

“We are further disappointed in Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac and local officials who have yet to unequivocally condemn the use of the bulldozer, a symbol of violence and anti-Muslim animus," said CAIR-NJ director Selaedin Maksut. “While we support Indian Americans’ right to celebrate their heritage and independence from British colonial rule, we condemn the use of a bulldozer and the glorification of Hindu nationalist figures who have a deeply anti-Muslim track record. We continue our call on the Indian Business Association for an apology.”

With reporting from Sarah Salvadore/Edison-Metuchen Patch reporter Original Patch report on this topic: Muslim Groups Condemn Presence Of Bulldozer At Parade (Aug. 16)

Calls For Accountability Grow Over Bulldozer In Edison Parade (Aug. 23)

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