Rahway mayor removes Abraham Clark from this year’s 'Rahway’s Own' honors, cites slaveholding

Mayor Raymond A. Giacobbe used opening remarks at the Rahway's Own & Rising Stars ceremony at the Union County Performing Arts Center to say Abraham Clark would not be recognized at the event after new information about Clark’s record as a slaveholder came to light.

"Originally, this evening was also going to include the recognition of Abraham Clark, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence who is buried here in Rahway," Giacobbe said. "However, after learning more about his history as a slaveholder, I felt it was important to remove him from being honored as one of Rahway's Own this evening." The announcement drew applause from the audience.

Giacobbe framed the decision as a matter of aligning the city’s recognitions with contemporary values. "Rahway's Own should represent individuals whose lives and values reflect the spirit of inclusion, opportunity, and unity that define our city," he said, while also saying his statement was not an effort to "ignore history or erase it." He added that the city must confront history "with honesty and using it as an opportunity to continue to grow as a community."

The mayor tied the remark to the evening's broader programming, noting the city is marking the nation's 250th anniversary with a series of events and that the Rahway's Own program is intended to honor people who represent the community in the present as well as the past. He did not state any formal change to municipal policy or the program’s selection rules; his remark applied to the decision about tonight’s recognition.

Tonight’s ceremony continued with presentations of Rising Stars and other Rahway's Own inductees. Organizers and presenters proceeded with scheduled recognitions and photo opportunities following the mayor’s announcement.