new jersey has always been viewed as a more "progressive" state. we typically vote blue for most elections. we are known for being "very liberal".

i think it's time that this stops. it's not true. new jersey might as well be a red state half of the time.

for starters, towns and communities in new jersey are very racially divided and white communities try their hardest to keep it that way.

i grew up in an affluent town and there were realtors that purposefully wouldn't sell to black families.

i am embarrassed, but my graduating class from high school was at least 80% white. i never knew any different as no one ever talked about it.

once i started college and began to educate myself i have learned that my town is disgusting. i am ashamed to be tied to them in any way.

my family has since moved to the shore area and it only got worse. trump flags and blue lives matter flags everywhere. i am aware it's a 'wealthier' area so it doesn't surprise me that rich white people support trump. doesn't make it less disgusting.

i have made my opinions known in town forums but "i'm just a snowflake kid". i had hoped that other communities surrounding us would not follow in our footsteps. unfortunately they very much have.

this thread is ending but another is coming once the comments stop coming in.

i posted on a jersey shore facebook group today that i thought an act of bigotry needed to be addressed.

i have not been to the boardwalk this year so i didn't know it was going on but at the boardwalk the white t-shirt vendors are selling shirts that say 'i can't breathe' with george floyd's face on it.

i have since learned that they also sell shirts that say "just stop resisting"

that is fucking disgusting. there is no excuse or acceptable reason for this. these white owners are making a profit off of a man's unlawful death. and off of mocking the black lives matter movement.

obviously i am not black so i can't and won't speak for them, but personally, i was very angry and upset that this was allowed to happen.

if any people of color do have opinions on it or anything they'd like to share i would love to hear it and share.

back to the facebook post, i knew it would get backlash from the trumpies around here but i was NOT expecting 800 comments and counting of white people SEETHING at me. speaking over black voices in the comments.

it was so disgusting to see and read. i knew that there will always be bigots everywhere you go but new jersey is getting praise and credit it doesn't deserve. once the comments stop i will be showing new jersey's true color: red.

if you are as disgusted as me, seaside boardwalk is on facebook and instagram but not twitter.