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State lawsuit claims New Jersey town’s former mayor directed police to keep minorities out
Lawsuit claims Clark officials used traffic stops and searches to exclude Black and Hispanic drivers, with Black motorists 3.7 times more likely to be searched, Attorney General says.
- On Thursday, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin sued Clark Township, alleging former Mayor Salvatore Bonaccorso and police leaders instructed officers to `keep Black people out of Clark` and used racial slurs.
- An investigation spanning 2015 through March 2025 found Union County Prosecutor's Office oversight from July 2020 and secret recordings in 2022 revealed a $400,000 hush‑money settlement, NJ Advance Media reported.
- Data shows Black and Hispanic drivers faced higher search rates, with Black motorists searched 3.7 times and Hispanic motorists 2.2 times more than white drivers, and officers allegedly used vehicle enforcement quotas and false `odor of marijuana` claims near the Garden State Parkway, Rahway, and Linden.
- Attorney General Matthew Platkin said Clark violated New Jersey civil‑rights laws and the New Jersey Constitution, while Angel Albanese, Clark Mayor, called the lawsuit `frivolous` and accused Platkin of `playing politics`.
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52 Articles
The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)Mayor told cops to keep Black people out of his town, according to lawsuit
New Jersey state officials allege that Clark Township used traffic quotas and targeted minority areas, using minor or false violations to justify searches
·London, United Kingdom
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Associated Press News+40 Reposted by 40 other sources
State lawsuit claims New Jersey town's former mayor directed police to keep minorities out
The former mayor of a New Jersey town and its current leaders are denying claims that the town directed its police to keep minorities out of the community.
·United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources52
Leaning Left12Leaning Right3Center33Last UpdatedBias Distribution69% Center
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources are Center
69% Center
L 25%
C 69%
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