Civil Rights Group Condemns Lacey Man's 'Racist Tirade' Against Driver

LACEY, NJ — The New Jersey chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization has condemned a Lacey man's "alleged racist tirade" against a Black Amazon driver.

The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) released a statement on Oct. 7 decrying the threats and calling on Amazon to protect its workers.

The statement comes a day after the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced that John Vincentini, 62, was charged with bias intimidation and terroristic threats in connection with a Sept. 5 incident, where he told an Amazon delivery driver that he was in a "racist neighborhood" and threatened to shoot him in the head, officials said. Read More: Man Made Racial Threats To Delivery Driver In Lacey: Prosecutor

"This is a deeply disturbing incident of racism. It's astounding that someone can boldly make such threats," said CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut.

"While we are relieved that the incident did not escalate, we call on Amazon to provide better protection for its workers," Maksut said.

He added that CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy and all other forms of bigotry.