Religion, politics and a governmental uproar in Lansdowne
A social media post perceived as attacking the religion of a Lansdowne Borough Council member by another borough official has been condemned by the mayor and council president.
Lansdowne Zoning Hearing Board member William Horton posted an image and comments taken as mocking Council Member Benjamin Hover following Thursday night’s council meeting.
The post shows what appears to be a rabbi surrounded by Jewish objects, including a Torah, Star of David, menorah, dove, and the wailing wall.
The test includes “Saint Ben for all people” works beautifully as a symbolic, universal figure: Not religious canon — but spiritual symbolism: A righteous soul, for humanity, beyond labels.” The image also reads “For All People” and there is also Hebrew writing.
Contacted by phone on Friday, Hover said he believed the post was motivated after his proposal at Thursday’s council meeting to honor St. Patrick was met with a cool reception. Other officials were worried that they didn’t want to support a religion, despite the fact that other religious events are honored, including Ramadan, Hover said.
“I put out a public statement and Mr. Horton decided to turn it into a antisemitic caricature, and attack my religion and mix up Christian iconography with religious Judaism, and do so to levy a personal prejudicial attack,” Hover said.
Reached by the Daily Times via Facebook direct message, Horton asked this reply be published in its entirety or not at all: “Mr. Hoover presents himself as a figure who protects and advocates for all members of the community through a religious and moral framework. This statement was intended to recognize his efforts and publicly commend him as a symbolic figure of moral leadership for all people.”
Hover said he is asking for appointed officials and council to undergo bias training with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Council. Horton is also on the Democratic Committee in Lansdowne. Hover said he has complained to the county Democrats since they have an anti-bias and harassment policy within the party.
He also feels Horton should resign.
Lansdowne Borough Council President Jessica Pointer and Mayor Magda Byrne condemned the post:
“We are deeply troubled and saddened by a recent social media post shared by Zoning Hearing Board member William Horton appearing to link Councilperson Benjamin Hover, a fellow public official, with imagery that invokes antisemitic tropes. Political disagreement never justifies rhetoric that perpetuates harmful stereotypes and fuels hatred. Religious discrimination has no place in public service or discourse. This behavior from an appointed official is entirely inappropriate and does not reflect the views of the Borough. We are reviewing the matter and evaluating appropriate next steps. Borough Council remains committed to keeping Lansdowne a welcoming and inclusive community for all.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Since publication on the Daily Times’ website, Hover has released a public statement on social media here.
“On February 19th, William Horton posted an inexcusable caricature mocking my stance as a public official–a stance which arises out of the religious teachings and beliefs from my faith as a Jew and the values of diversity enshrined in the laws of Lansdowne Borough, Pennsylvania, and the United States,” said the post by Hover published Feb. 22 at 5:26 p.m.. “With the exaggerated overt depictions of a religiously observant Jew in tallit with the background of Jerusalem cast in the sainthood iconography, William Horton inexcusably delved into the long millennial history of mocking Jewish persons and the Jewish people through caricature.”
He called, in the post, for Horton to resign.
“For this, William Horton needs to resign or be removed from his role on the Zoning Hearing Board,” said Hover’s post. “In his role on this quasi judicial board, his documented overt prejudice and bias jeopardizes every decision, which would be costly in potential appeals by developers. Furthermore, any federal funding the borough receives is contingent that all of our Borough practices comply with the Civil Rights Act, which forbid prejudice and religious, shared ancestry, or national origin discrimination. Bill Horton has every right to be a bigot, but not represent Lansdowne with his beliefs.”
