Failure In Research Produces Bigot Towards Catholics and Irish Nominee

Trenton, New Jersey December 12, 2011- The New Jersey Hall of Fame has nominated Thomas
Nast, cartoonist and formally of Morristown as one of their inductees for the
Hall of Fame for 2012. Mr. Nast is known for being the father of the Republican
Elephant, Democratic Donkey and many other famous cartoons. However, in 1871 he
also authored “The American River Ganges” which portrays Catholic Bishops
attacking American school children and in other cartoons he associates Irish as
violent drunks.“Part of the Hall of Fame’s mission is to educate and show
our children examples of what they can aspire to be. Clearly, the Nast example
is one of the worst examples we can use to illustrate such an important life
lesson. I find it is outrageous that the New Jersey Hall of Fame is even
considering such a bigot in these times for consideration” said Sean Pender,
President of the New Jersey Ancient Order of Hibernians.

According to the New Jersey Hall of Fame website, any New
Jersey Hall of Fame nomination goes through an expert of 30 or more panelists
of experts in their fields for a first round of vetting. Once the nomination
has been vetted it goes to the Hall of Fame Voting Academy, which consists of
more than 100 organizations statewide. If the nomination passes though this
round it then is then announced on the Hall of Fame Website for the public to
vote on who deserves to be inducted.

Pender continued, “This nomination is not only offensive to
the Irish and Catholics but the fact that the nomination made it past the first
and second rounds is mind boggling! On behalf of Irish and Catholics in New
Jersey we ask the New Jersey Hall of Fame to immediately withdraw the nomination
and offer an apology for their horrific, insensitive nomination.”

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