ADCNJ Press Release
See AP Story

Wildwood game is offensive and racist.

Contact; Aref Assaf  973-981-4104

president@adcnj.us   www.adcnj.us 

See TV Coverage of game
Caldwell NJ: August 19, 2004: The State's Chapter of American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee views with grave concern the game '"Wack the Iraq" located just north of  Morey's Pier in Wildwood, NJ. "Wack the Iraq" click for picture  is a game where players shoot paint balls at live human targets dressed as Iraqis. Figures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden adorn the arcade. We believe these seemingly innocent and fun-intentioned games do not belong in a family-oriented tourist town such as Wildwood. The town of Wildwood has been notified and according to Commissioner Schweiger, the owner of the pier where the game is being played has refused to remove it citing free speech and the First Amendment. 'While we are strong advocates of free speech,' said Aref Assaf, President of the NJ Chapter, "we believe that the game is nothing short of hate speech as it vilifies  Iraqis and promotes Anti Arab sentiments, and, therefore, must be discontinued."

In the tense and volatile atmosphere of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim acts or statements, the game only adds fuel to the matter. Hate speech is not protected by law and thus must be confronted and rendered illegal. Ignorance can no longer justify hate speech and bigotry should never so avariciously enrich any person.

" We can only imagine the uproar if the name of the game was another country such as Israel or Britain." We call on the Town of Wildwood to exert its legal and zoning authorities to remove the offensive game. ADC NJ calls on all visitors to the Wildwood Boardwalk to avoid playing the offensive game and to express their displeasure to the owners of the pier. "No one should profit from acts of bigotry and hate-mongering regardless of the venue or the intent." Assaf stated.

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ADC New Jersey is a grassroots civil rights organization which welcomes people of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities as members. We are a chapter of ADC, a registered not-for- profit civil rights organization based in Washington, DC.