A local New Jersey Democrat is facing calls to resign from her position after sharing a meme on social media mocking Easter with references to drag and abortion.
“Easter eggs are aborted baby chickens that are painted in drag for little kids to love,” said the meme shared by Glen Rock Borough Councilwoman Paula Gilligan on Instagram last week.
Gilligan faced immediate backlash from community members, particularly Christians, who demanded she apologize and step down from Glen Rock's all-Democratic, all-female council. Some are even planning to protest against his actions during the next district council meeting on Wednesday evening.
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Paula Gilligan, a Democratic councilwoman from Glen Rock, New Jersey, shared this post on Instagram mocking Easter with references to abortion and drag. (Instagram/Glen Rock Borough Council)
Gilligan later apologized in a statement posted to social media and the council's website, saying her posting of the meme was intended to express her views on abortion and trans issues, but notably did not make any mention of Easter.
“I noticed there were constituents in Glen Rock who were concerned about a meme on my personal Instagram story. This meme takes aim at the absurdity of 'personhood' laws,” Gilligan wrote, referring to Various current and proposed laws in states across the country dictate that fetuses have the same legal rights as someone already born.
“My personal opinion is that people have the right to control their bodies and their lives. My personal Instagram does not constitute the official views, opinions or beliefs of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Glen Rock. To those who feel this makes fun of your holiday traditions, that was not my intention. I wish everyone celebrating a peaceful and joyful holiday,” she added.
Gilligan's posting of the meme and subsequent apology came just weeks after Glen Rock residents gathered at the local high school cafeteria on March 9 to express solidarity against anti-Semitism following multiple instances of vandalism in the district which even caught the attention of the Democratic representative. Josh Gottheimer, who condemned them.
Glen Rock's mayor and other council members released a statement over the weekend apologizing to community members offended by Gilligan's actions.
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Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) at the American Zionist Movement/AZM Washington Forum: Renewing Bipartisan Commitment to Israel and Zionism at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC. (Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Image)
“We were made aware of a post that appeared on a Council member's personal Instagram story. The post discussed Easter, the holiest day of the year in the Christian calendar, in an update on two issues that have nothing to do with Easter,” the statement said.
“We all believe that everyone's religious beliefs and traditions should be treated with respect. They should not be the subject of jokes or inflammatory posts on social media. This is even more true when posting on social media is made by an elected official, because we are here to represent and support all Glen Rockers of all beliefs and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“We understand the importance of Easter and its symbols to the many Glen Rockers who celebrate it,” the text adds.
Gilligan has so far not indicated whether she plans to resign and did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox also reached out to Gottheimer's office for comment on his recent strong stance against anti-Semitism.
Speaking to Fox News Digital ahead of Wednesday's council meeting, local Republican leader Barry Wilkes described his reaction to Gilligan's mockery of Easter and expressed hope that community members would show up in massed at the meeting to denounce such rhetoric.
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Barry Wilkes, local Republican leader from Glen Rock, New Jersey and former candidate for the State Assembly. (Barry Wilkes)
“I am a churchgoer and a believer. Seeing this the week before Easter was truly disturbing – disturbing in the respect that it has absolutely nothing to do with what the holiday, this holy day, means. The Resurrection of Christ has absolutely nothing to do with it,” Wilkes said.
“What bothers me the most, and the reason I get involved, is because it's very selfish when adults do this kind of thing because it only hurts our children. It confuses our children and it’s harder for them to understand what’s going on, what the world is,” he said.
Wilkes, a former New Jersey state Assembly candidate who is considering a run for district president, said he is part of a group considering launching a recall campaign against Gilligan and that he wanted people to turn out in their hundreds for the vote. Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. ET and questioning session at 8 p.m. ET to show what type of behavior should not be displayed by a local elected official.
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“You want someone on a board that people look up to, who has answers for them, who you believe in because you voted for him and you trusted him. Come out two weeks after the March 9 meeting and to sow discord with something like that is just blatant hypocrisy,” he said.
“I think betrayed is a good word,” he added.