Two radio hosts in the US are facing severe backlash for referring to New Jersey's Sikh-American Attorney General Gurbir Grewal as the "turban man" after some people expressed outrage over the "xenophobic and racist" comments.
Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco, who host the "Dennis and Judi Show" on the radio show NJ 101.5FM, were talking about Mr Grewal's decision to suspend marjiuana prosecutions when they began calling him "turban man."
Dennis of @nj1015’s @DennisAndJudi Show just called New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal — a practicing Sikh — “turban man.” https://t.co/2jLaVbXH63
— Ryan Hutchins (@ryanhutchins) July 25, 2018
"You know the attorney general guy? I'm never going to know his name, I'm just gonna say the guy with the turban," Mr Malloy said.
"Turban man!" Franco repeated in a sing-song tone. "If it offends you, then don't wear the turban, man, and I'll remember your name," Mr Malloy, said as both the hosts laughed. "But Turban Man -- is that highly offensive?"
"To me? No. To people who wear turbans, could be," said Mr Franco.
"Could be. But if you called me Baseball Hat Man and I was in a culture where no one wears baseball hats, should I be offended?" Mr Malloy said.
"Uh, no. I would say no," Mr Franco replied.
This is not the first indignity I’ve faced and it probably won’t be the last. Sometimes, I endure it alone. Yesterday, all of New Jersey heard it. It’s time to end small-minded intolerance. It’s an issue I addressed at @APAICS conference this May: pic.twitter.com/XnxJp53cxv
— Gurbir S. Grewal (@GurbirGrewalNJ) July 26, 2018
"So, anyway. The attorney general -- Turban Man -- says he's not going to prosecute pot things until September," Mr Malloy said, laughing during the conversation.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who had appointed Mr Grewal, strongly condemned the language of the radio hosts, demanding action by the station.
"Outraged by the abhorrent and xenophobic comments mocking @NewJerseyOAG on The @DennisandJudi Show on @nj1015. Hate speech has no place in NJ, and does not belong on our airwaves. Station management must hold the hosts accountable for these intolerant and racist comments," Mr Murphy tweeted.
To see the full May 2018 @GurbirGrewalNJ speech at @APAICS on hate and intolerance – and how we can rise above it -- watch here: https://t.co/o1rUrYgPO2
— NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal (@NewJerseyOAG) July 26, 2018
The radio station later tweeted that it is aware of the "offensive comments" made by the radio hosts during the broadcast.
"We have taken immediate action and have taken them off the air until further notice. We are investigating the matter and will have further comment shortly," it said in the tweet.
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, also a Sikh-American who wears the turban, tweeted, "Hey "Racist Man" @DennisandJudi : I'm a Jersey guy, born & raised, and so is NewJerseyOAG Grewal - this type of racist garbage has no place in Jersey. Get with the program! #RacistManDennis #jerseypride #educateyourself."
Mr Bhalla also thanked Mr Murphy for "standing up and speaking out" in support of Mr Grewal.
Hey "Racist Man" @DennisandJudi : I'm a Jersey guy, born & raised, and so is NewJerseyOAG Grewal - this type of racist garbage has no place in Jersey. Get with the program! #RacistManDennis #jerseypride #educateyourself https://t.co/2X2pXFUt9H
— Ravinder S. Bhalla (@RaviBhalla) July 26, 2018
Mr Grewal, who was previously Bergen County Prosecutor, became the nation's first Sikh state attorney general after the state Senate approved his nomination this year. Mr Grewal is born to Indian immigrant parents in Jersey City and was raised in the state's Hudson and Bergen counties.
The clip quickly garnered attention on Twitter and civil rights advocacy group ACLU of New Jersey tweeted a link with an audio pronunciation of Mr Grewal's name, saying "Turban man? Is that offensive?' Yep. (If you have to ask...). Racism isn't cute. It's just racist."
Thank you to @GovMurphy, @NJSenatePres, @CoryBooker, @RaviBhalla & so many others for your support last night. You’ve got my back – and the backs of all New Jerseyans.
— Gurbir S. Grewal (@GurbirGrewalNJ) July 26, 2018
Others have faced far worse. We rise above this. Now let’s get back to business. pic.twitter.com/f2TqL4vzB5
Twitter users too slammed the racist remarks saying there is no place for such language. Amardeep Singh, ACLU NJ Board Member and co-founder of rights group Sikh Coalition tweeted "let's go after the advertisers of the show as well."City of Hoboken's Deputy Chief of Staff Jason Freeman tweeted that racism has no place in the "New Jersey that we live in.
"No person should ever be judged by their Turban, Kippah, Cross, Hijab, or anything else that represents their faith. @DennisandJudi needs a lesson in the kind of NJ that we all want to live in," he added.
We are aware of the offensive comments made by Dennis and Judi during Wednesday's broadcast. We have taken immediate action and have taken them off the air until further notice. We are investigating the matter and will have further comment shortly.https://t.co/kudnFRAAVt
— New Jersey 101.5 (@nj1015) July 26, 2018
