Monmouth, Ocean United Way pulls event from Trump club over Charlottesville

A local charity is pulling its event from one of President Donald J. Trump's New Jersey golf courses, the latest fallout for his personal businesses after fatal protests in Charlottesville earlier this month.

The United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties announced on Facebook that it is moving its planned Leadership Reception from Trump National Golf Course in Colts Neck.

"United Ways in every community denounce racism, bigotry and prejudice in all forms. We strongly reject the divisive worldview of groups like the white nationalists and neo-Nazis that incited the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia," the statement said.

"We thank all of our supporters who stand with us to embrace ideas that unify us and make us stronger. To live better, we must Live United."

The move has sparked sharp responses Tuesday among both conservative and liberal residents. A number of conservative residents denounced the decision on social media as a political move and vowed to end their donations to the United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Meanwhile, residents in liberal social media groups like those aligned with the Resistence and Indivisible movements say they intend to increase donations to the local nonprofit, which works with other charities to fund health, education and financial stability programs.

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, a Democrat, applauded the United Way’s stand on the issue.

"As a community in Monmouth County that benefits from the United Way’s generosity, we are proud that they are taking a stand against President Trump’s lack of moral clarity on this issue,” Doherty said.

Ocean County Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., a Republican from Pine Beach, said the United Way is a private organization and has every right to make such a decision.

Bartlett said he understands that many Americans are disappointed in Trump’s reaction to the events in Charlottesville and he asserted that there is legitimate reason to be.

“What’s been lost in American society is the ability of the president — and this goes for almost any president today — to go on national television and use the bully pulpit of the Oval Office in the White House,” Bartlett said. “This president does not know how to do it. There is a vast difference in getting elected and governing.”

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But Toms River Board of Education member Daniel P. Leonard, a Republican from Beachwood and an ardent defender of Trump on social media, said in a Facebook post Tuesday that he would no longer support the United Way over its decision.

"And I pull my personal support of them!" Leonard wrote.

Bill Lawton, former director of development of Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven who is now the front of house manager at The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College in Toms River, questioned why a charitable organization would be willing to see so much money spent on a gala in the first place.

"And to think I was going to donate to Ocean UW," Lawton said in a Facebook post. "This is an organization that is so heavily weighted in administrative costs that can afford Trump National? No money coming from me!"

Trump's Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. has been losing galas in the wake of Trump's response to the violence, which you can watch in the video above.

Trump faced criticism immediately after the when he said "both sides" were to blame for violence in Charlottesville, which killed one woman, Heather Heyer, and injured 19 others.

Two days later, he denounced neo-Nazis, the KKK and white supremacists, calling them "criminals and thugs." But a day later, he reverted to his initial position where he said there were "some fine people" among both sides of protesters.

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The United Way's chief executive, Timothy Hearne, said the decision came as a result of the "overall reaction coming out of Charlottesville," but did not specifically cite the Trump's comments themselves as the cause.

"We heard some feedback," he said. "We reached out to (United Way) leadership and decided to move it."

More: Protesters rally outside Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck

Trump's Colts Neck property was selected as the venue for the Sept. 28 reception months ago, and invitations had been sent to a mailing service the week before the Charlottesville protests, Hearne said.

The reception will still take place, however, it will likely be postponed while United Way finds a new venue for the annual event, he said.

The website of the United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties describes the organization's mission as one dedicated to improving the lives of people in both counties "by mobilizing the caring power of our community and advancing the common good in education, health and financial stability."

The organization was a leader in the recovery and reconstruction of the Shore in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy.