Murphy, Bhalla, Mukherji, Amy DeGise, Lavarro host rally for Menendez in Jersey City

A number of elected officials from Jersey City and Hoboken, along with Gov. Phil Murphy (D), hosted a rally for U.S. Senator Bob Menendez’s re-election at the Zeppelin Hall Biergarten last night. 

“Senator Menendez, in this town, when he was a state legislator, fought to ensure that the South Asian community, the Asian American community, did not continue to be victimized when 30 years ago last year, the dot buster attacks were going on in Hudson County,” exclaimed Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-33).

“We are united 1,000 percent behind Bob Menendez being re-elected to U.S. senator. It’s a critical moment in history. I was telling someone earlier, this is not just important for Hudson County, not just for New Jersey, but for our country that we retain this seat,” added Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla.

Jersey City Council President Rolando Lavarro recalled how Bob Menendez came to the aid of Filipino World Ward II veterans during one of their greatest times in need.

“It was back in 1997 when I first saw on C-Span a congressman from Hudson County and his name was Bob Menendez. He quelled on the House floor about keeping our promises as a nation to those Filipino World War II veterans who fought side by side, protected our Democracy and he did it again as a senator in 2010 when it was finally enacted,” he stated.

“And I tell you now: it’s never mattered more, now more than ever, we need someone to protect our communities: minorities, women, immigrants. We need to protect social security and healthcare. We need someone to fight like he’s fought for the Indian community against the dot busters and the racists who now call President Trump their leader.”

Taking a page out of the Menendez campaign book, Hudson County Democratic Organization Chair Amy DeGise reminded those in attendance that this election was a referendum on President Donald Trump (R).

“The teacher in me wants to remind [everyone] that the mid-term election is supposed to be a report card on the president’s first two years in office. What kind of report card do you want to give this man? An ‘F,'” she said to loud cheers and applause.

“An F, so that means Senator Bob Menendez gets an A, an A-plus. For not just fighting for us and our communities and his Democratic values, which are our Democratic values, but everyday has [fought] against this president.”

Additionally, Murphy said that this election, where Menendez is facing the stiffest test of his political career against wealthy GOP candidate Bob Hugin, is do or die for our country.

“I ask you: where would we be without the man to my left? … Ladies and gentlemen, in nine days, you can’t get an A-minus in nine days, this is a pass-fail test. We either get this guy re-elected or oh my God the alternative is unthinkable. With your help: it will never happen.”

Menendez echoed that sentiment, noting that November 6th has far larger implications than who will represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate.

“This election is not about my election to the senate: this election is about your future, about our hopes and our dreams and our aspirations – what type of a country we want to be. They have no checks and balances on this president,” he stated.

“They have a House of Representatives, a United State Senate: there’s no way to stop Trump’s march against things that we all care about. So, we need to put a check and balance on it – that comes with electing Democrats to the House and the Senate: we have nine days. Nine days to change the course of events in our country.”

Other dignitaries in attendance included Assemblywoman Angelica McKnight (D-31), Jersey City council members James Solomon and Mira Prinz-Arey, Jersey City Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas, as well as former Council members Khemraj “Chico” Ramchal and Phil Kenny.