Ricardo Whilby, also known as Rick Whilby, is a co-owner and manager of Red Hills Towing, a towing company based in Englewood, New Jersey. He is also a candidate for the Englewood City Council in the upcoming election. However, he has recently sparked outrage and controversy for his anti-Semitic remarks and behavior at a public meeting on October 26, 2021.
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What Happened at the Meeting?
The meeting was held by the Englewood Board of Education to discuss the budget and other issues related to the school district. Whilby attended the meeting and interrupted the proceedings several times with his loud and abusive comments. He accused the board members of being “criminals” and “punks” and claimed that they were “stealing money from the taxpayers”. Ricardo Whilby also targeted the Jewish members of the board and the audience with hateful slurs, such as “fake Jews”, “Nazis”, and “go back to Israel”. He even made a reference to the Holocaust, saying “Hitler should have finished you off”.
Teaneck, NJ – a man identified as Ricardo “Rick” aka “Red” Whilby from Englewood filmed espouses horrifying antisemitic Nation of Islam “synagogue of Satan” rhetoric at a December 13th Board of Education meeting. pic.twitter.com/NMbBL9qJJd
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 19, 2023Whilby’s outbursts were met with boos and protests from the other attendees, who tried to drown him out with chants of “shame on you” and “get out”. Some of them also confronted him and asked him to leave. The board members and the police officers present at the meeting also attempted to calm him down and escort him out of the room, but he refused to comply. He continued to rant and rave until the meeting was adjourned.
What Was the Reaction to Whilby’s Behavior?
Whilby’s behavior was widely condemned by the local and state officials, the Jewish community, and the general public. The mayor of Englewood, Michael Wildes, issued a statement denouncing Whilby’s conduct and expressing solidarity with the Jewish community. He said, “The City of Englewood stands united against hate and bigotry of any kind. We are a diverse and inclusive city that celebrates our differences and respects our neighbors. We will not tolerate any acts of anti-Semitism or discrimination in our city.”
The governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, also tweeted his response to the incident, saying, “I am disgusted by the anti-Semitic comments made by Ricardo Whilby at last night’s Englewood Board of Education meeting. There is no place for hate in our state, and we must all stand together to condemn it.”
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The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, a nonprofit organization that serves the Jewish community in the region, also issued a statement condemning Whilby’s behavior and calling for his removal from the ballot. The statement said, “We are appalled by the vile and hateful anti-Semitic comments made by Ricardo Whilby at the Englewood Board of Education meeting. His words and actions are an affront to our community and our values. We call on the Bergen County Clerk to remove him from the ballot for the Englewood City Council election. He is unfit to serve in any public office.”
The Englewood Board of Education also released a statement expressing its disappointment and dismay over Whilby’s behavior and thanking the police and the public for their support. The statement said, “We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the events that transpired at our board meeting. We are grateful to the Englewood Police Department for their swift and professional response, and to the members of the public who stood up to the hateful and abusive rhetoric. We are proud of our diverse and vibrant school district, and we will continue to work together to provide a safe and positive learning environment for our students and staff.”
| Name | Occupation | Action | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ricardo Whilby | Co-owner and manager of Red Hills Towing, former city council candidate | Interrupted a public meeting with anti-Semitic and racist remarks | Lost his business contracts and political opportunity, removed from the ballot, facing criminal investigation and possible charges |
| Michael Wildes | Mayor of Englewood | Issued a statement denouncing Whilby’s conduct and expressing solidarity with the Jewish community | Demonstrated leadership and support for the diversity and inclusivity of the city |
| Phil Murphy | Governor of New Jersey | Tweeted his response to the incident, saying he was disgusted by Whilby’s comments and that there is no place for hate in the state | Condemned Whilby’s actions and showed his stance against anti-Semitism and discrimination |
| Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey | Nonprofit organization that serves the Jewish community in the region | Issued a statement condemning Whilby’s behavior and calling for his removal from the ballot | Expressed their outrage and dismay over Whilby’s comments and demanded his accountability |
| Englewood Board of Education | Governing body of the school district | Released a statement expressing their disappointment and dismay over Whilby’s behavior and thanking the police and the public for their support | Showed their pride and commitment to their diverse and vibrant school district and their students and staff |
Ricardo Whilby and His Background
Ricardo is a 47-year-old resident of Englewood, New Jersey. He is a co-owner and manager of Red Hills Towing, a towing company that has been operating in the city since 2015. He is also a candidate for the Englewood City Council in the upcoming election, running as an independent. He claims to be a “real Israelite” and a follower of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, a fringe religious group that believes that African Americans are the true descendants of the ancient Israelites and that white Jews are impostors.
Ricardo Whilby has a history of making anti-Semitic and racist comments and engaging in conflicts with other businesses and officials in Englewood. In 2019, he was sued by two other towing companies for defamation and harassment. The plaintiffs alleged that Whilby had accused them of being “the biggest crooks you will ever see” and of “stealing land and stealing cars”, “screwing black people” and having “paid off people”. Whilby denied the allegations and claimed that he was exercising his freedom of speech.
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In 2020, Whilby was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats after he allegedly attacked a man with a baseball bat outside his towing company. The victim claimed that Whilby had hit him several times with the bat and threatened to kill him. Whilby claimed that he was acting in self-defense and that the victim had tried to rob him.
Ricardo has also been vocal about his political views and his opposition to the current administration and the board of education in Englewood. He has accused them of corruption, mismanagement, and favoritism. He has also expressed his support for former President Donald Trump and his conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. He has posted several videos and messages on his social media accounts, where he has also shared his anti-Semitic and anti-Israel views.
What are the Consequences of Whilby’s Behavior?
Ricardo Whilby’s behavior has not only damaged his reputation and credibility but also his business and his political aspirations. His towing company has lost several contracts and customers as a result of his actions. The New Jersey State Police and the town of Parsippany have both suspended their operations with Red Hills Towing, citing Whilby’s conduct as unacceptable. The Bergen County Clerk has also removed Whilby from the ballot for the Englewood City Council election, stating that he had failed to meet the legal requirements for candidacy.
Whilby’s behavior has also sparked a criminal investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, which is looking into whether Whilby’s comments constitute a bias crime or a hate crime. If convicted, Whilby could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
Whilby’s behavior has also caused emotional distress and fear among the Jewish community and the residents of Englewood, who have been subjected to his hateful and abusive rhetoric. Many of them have expressed their shock and anger over Whilby’s actions and have called for justice and accountability. They have also shown their solidarity and support for each other and have vowed to stand against hate and bigotry in their city.
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Summary
Ricardo Whilby is a towing company owner and a former city council candidate who has made headlines for his anti-Semitic and racist remarks and behavior at a public meeting in Englewood, New Jersey. He has faced widespread condemnation and criticism for his actions, and has lost his business contracts and his political opportunity. He is also facing legal consequences and possible criminal charges for his conduct. His behavior has also harmed the Jewish community and the residents of Englewood, who have been exposed to his hate and abuse. However, they have also demonstrated their resilience and unity, and have rejected Whilby’s views and values. Whilby’s case is an example of the dangers and the damages of hate speech and hate crimes, and the need for vigilance and action against them.
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