NJ attorney general Gurbir Grewal responds after radio hosts suspended for racist comments against him

TRENTON, N.J. — The nation’s first Sikh-American attorney general responded Thursday, a day after two New Jersey radio hosts repeatedly referred to him as “turban man.”

Gurbir Grewal tweeted Thursday morning that he’s the 61st attorney general of New Jersey. He wrote: “I’m a Sikh American. I have 3 daughters. And yesterday, I told them to turn off the radio.”

.@nj1015: My name, for the record, is Gurbir Grewal. I’m the 61st Attorney General of NJ. I’m a Sikh American. I have 3 daughters. And yesterday, I told them to turn off the radio.

— Gurbir S. Grewal (@GurbirGrewalNJ) July 26, 2018

This is not the first indignity I’ve faced and it probably won’t be the last. Sometimes, I endure it alone. Yesterday, all of New Jersey heard it. It’s time to end small-minded intolerance. It’s an issue I addressed at @APAICS conference this May: pic.twitter.com/XnxJp53cxv

— Gurbir S. Grewal (@GurbirGrewalNJ) July 26, 2018

WKXW-FM hosts Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco made the comments Wednesday while discussing Grewal’s recent order to suspend marijuana prosecutions in the state. Malloy said he couldn’t remember Grewal’s name and he told Franco: “I’m just going to say the guy with the turban.”

The pair continued to call Grewal “Turban Man” throughout the segment.

Malloy and Franco acknowledged their words might be offensive, but Malloy said “if that offends you then don’t wear the turban and maybe I’ll remember your name.”

The station, known as New Jersey 101.5, tweeted: “We have taken immediate action and have taken them off the air until further notice. We are investigating the matter and will have further comment shortly.”

We are aware of the offensive comments made by Dennis and Judi during Wednesday's broadcast. We have taken immediate action and have taken them off the air until further notice. We are investigating the matter and will have further comment shortly.https://t.co/kudnFRAAVt

— New Jersey 101.5 (@nj1015) July 26, 2018

Neither host has responded to emails seeking comment.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Gov. Phil Murphy have denounced the hosts’ statements, with the Democratic governor saying hate speech “does not belong on our airwaves.”