New Jersey Radio Station Hosts Suspended For Racist Rant Get Training On Sikh Religion

Yesterday,the Sikh Coalition led a Sikh awareness training with nearly 30 employees of NJ 101.5, a radio station owned by Townsquare Media, Inc., after radio hosts made disrespectful comments about New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and his turban on July 25th. 

 

 

In addition to training the show hosts, Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco, the session educated employees on the Sikh faith and challenges faced by Sikhs in modern America.

 

 

“We welcome this important step as we work with NJ 101.5 on workshops, anti-racism trainings, and long-term strategies for growth and education,” said Sikh Coalition Executive Director Satjeet Kaur. 

 

 

“No person or community deserves ridicule because of how they look or what they believe, and we thank NJ 101.5 for taking these additional measures to reinforce values of inclusivity and diversity.”

 

 

While on the air July 25, Malloy and Franco referred to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal as “turban man” and "the guy with the turban.”

 

 

"Listen, and if that offends you, then don't wear the turban and maybe I'll remember your name," Malloy said on air.

 

 

The remarks drew sharp criticism across social media, with many calling for the hosts to be removed from the air.

 

 

"My name, for the record, is Gurbir Grewal," the attorney general tweeted. "I'm the 61st Attorney General of NJ. I'm a Sikh American. I have 3 daughters. And yesterday, I told them to turn off the radio."

 

 

Grewal did not attend the Sikh session at the station on Tuesday and has publicly said he has moved on from the incident.

 

 

Further, the Sikh Coalition worked with Townsquare Media to provide media resources on Sikhism to the station, and helped bring local and national attention to how the media-amplified derogatory language affects Sikhs in a climate in which they are regularly subject to discrimination, harassment and violence.

 

 

Following this initial Sikh awareness training, the Sikh Coalition will facilitate additional training on understanding biases.

 

 

 

 

 

“Townsquare Media exists to entertain, engage and inform our communities. The more we are informed, the more effective in that mission we will be,” said Ron deCastro, Market President of Townsquare Media’s NJ 101.5. “As the voice of New Jersey, NJ 101.5 values this responsibility deeply and is grateful to the Sikh Coalition for working with us to reinforce our mission.”