Glen Rock council member facing criticism over Easter meme shared on social media

Kyle Morel, NorthJersey.com
Updated ·2 min read
6

A Glen Rock councilwoman has come under fire and is facing calls to resign for sharing a meme on her personal social media account that some residents perceived as mocking Easter and Christians.

Paula Gilligan, a Democrat, apologized at Wednesday's council meeting for her post and said she never intended to offend anyone, TAPinto Fair Lawn/Glen Rock reported.

The meme, posted March 18 on the United Humanists Instagram page, referred to Easter eggs as "aborted chicken babies that are painted in drag for small children to worship." Gilligan shared the post on her Instagram story, a feature that disappears from the site after 24 hours unless the user saves it to their profile.

Glen Rock councilwoman Paula Gilligan, second from left, was sworn in to her position along with fellow councilwoman Teresa Gilbreath Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Assemblyperson Lisa Swain, far left, and Sen. Cory Booker, far right, administered the oath of office for the two women.
Glen Rock councilwoman Paula Gilligan, second from left, was sworn in to her position along with fellow councilwoman Teresa Gilbreath Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Assemblyperson Lisa Swain, far left, and Sen. Cory Booker, far right, administered the oath of office for the two women.

In a statement posted Sunday on the Glen Rock website, Gilligan explained that the meme was a commentary on "personhood" laws that grant legal status to unborn children. The issue came into the spotlight last month after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that such protections apply to embryos created during in-vitro fertilization as well.

"This legislation supports an extremist political position that I disagree with," Gilligan wrote. "It is my personal opinion that people have the right to control their bodies and their lives."

Gilligan also noted that the meme on her personal Instagram page does not reflect the views of her fellow council members.

"To those who feel it mocks your holiday traditions, that was not my intention," she wrote. "Wishing all who celebrate a peaceful, joyous holiday."

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The Glen Rock council and Mayor Kristine Morieko also issued a statement Sunday apologizing to anyone who was offended by the post. The note praised Glen Rock as an inclusive community and pledged to set a positive example for the rest of the borough as elected officials.

"We all feel very strongly that everyone’s religious beliefs and traditions must be treated with respect. They should not be the subject of jokes or inflammatory social media posts," the statement read. "That is even more true when the social media post is made by an elected official, because we are here to represent and support all Glen Rockers of all religious beliefs and backgrounds."

Both statements were posted on the Borough of Glen Rock Facebook page, and they prompted numerous comments from residents outraged by the post and demanding that Gilligan resign from the council.

"Paula Gilligan campaigned as treating everyone with kindness and equity. This is far from it," one commenter wrote.

Gilligan was elected in November 2022 to a three-year term on the council that runs through 2025.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Glen Rock NJ councilwoman facing criticism over Easter meme