NJ school official calls police chief 'skinhead' during stop; group calls for resignation

SOUTH ORANGE — A New Jersey school board member has been caught on camera cursing at a police officer who pulled her over for speeding and calling the local police chief "a skinhead cop," leading to calls for her resignation.

South Orange-Maplewood School Board Member Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad can be heard using profanity when being issued tickets by the South Orange officer in dashcam video of the April 27 traffic stop.

Although the driver identifies herself as Lawson-Muhammad, she cannot be seen on the video.

Lawson-Muhammad, who is black, can be heard telling the white police officer that she's "scared of cops because you guys hurt black people," and suggesting that she would contact local officials. She also refers to the police chief as "a skinhead cop."

The SOMA Black Parents workshop organization, dedicated to "educational success and cultural grounding of black children" in South Orange and Maplewood, sent a letter to the Board of Education calling for Lawson-Muhammad's resignation.

"Under no circumstances is this behavior, from a public servant no less, is acceptable. Ms. Lawson-Muhammad must resign her position," the letter dated Wednesday stated.

"The officer should be commended for his professionalism, demeanor and the respect he showed a citizen who immediately attempted to use her position to intimidate him," the group also said in the three-page letter.

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