2 Roseland Council Members Resign after Text with Racial Comments/Joke

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Fellow Republicans and councilmen Tom Tsilionis and David Jacobs, who served the Roseland borough, have officially resigned. The two councilmen handed in their resignations after texting with other officials in a group text.

Both men resigned on Sunday, after their racial and ethnic comments with other members of the Roseland council were made in 2016.

Tsilionis and Jacobs have both apologized.

The slur via text was sent to all members of the council and Mayor, but only Tsilionis and Jacobs were involved.

In a statement Sunday, Roseland Roseland Mayor John Duthie, Essex County Republican Chairman Al Barlas and

Roseland Republican Chairman Mary Comito wrote "Regardless of circumstance, racial and ethnic based comments have no place in our accepted discourse. We condemn any disparaging comments in any form against any group or individual based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age or disability."

Part of the text message, which was part of a longer streaming text, read as follows;

Tsilionis Texted Jacobs, "David how do I become Jewish? I want to be half Jewish (cheap) and half African American (endowed)."

"First the Rabbi needs to take a bigger cut," Jacobs texted back, noting the Jewish bris ceremony.

"I am legally changing my name to ShwartzNigga," Tsilionis texted back.