Gottheimer calls on Dye to resign NAACP post

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) says that Jeffrey Dye needs to step down from his post as president of the Passaic NAACP after making a series of anti-Semitic and anti-Latino statements on social media.

“He should resign,” Gottheimer told the New Jersey Globe.

State NAACP officials are waiting for guidance from the national office before determining if or how he can be removed from his local chapter presidency, according to state NAACP President Richard T. Smith.

Smith told the Globe last week that Dye’s views are not those of the organization, a sentiment echoed by other leaders of the century-old civil rights group.

“His values are not that of the NAACP or myself or anyone in my branch,” said Junius Carter III, the Englewood NAACP President.

Carter said the decision to oust Dye from his local post would be up to his own chapter or the national organization.

“I don’t have the power to remove him,” Carter said.

Dye still has more than a year remaining in his term.  He ran unopposed in December 2016 and was re-elected last year.

Calvin Merritt, who preceded Dye as president of the Passaic branch, declined to comment on whether Dye should resign and deferred questions to the state office.

“If I had something to way, I would direct it right to Mr. Dye,” Merritt said.  “I wouldn’t discuss it in the media.

Merritt told the Globe that he has not spoken to Dye about the controversy that led to his firing by the Murphy administration.

Asked if he planned to discuss the matter with his successor, Merritt said, “If the opportunity presents itself, absolutely.”

Merritt says he has not remained active with the NAACP since leaving office, but stressed the importance of the organization continuing to play an important role in helping the community in Passaic.