New Jersey's Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Clark Township Over Racially Charged Traffic Stops
The New Jersey attorney general's office has filed a lawsuit against the township of Clark, alleging that its mayor and police department engaged in discriminatory practices targeting Black drivers. The complaint claims that former Mayor Salvatore Bonaccorso instructed police to use racial slurs and tactics to "keep chasing the spooks out of town," effectively excluding Black people from the area.
According to the lawsuit, Clark police relied on flimsy excuses such as a "strong odor of marijuana" and focused on minor infractions to harass Black and other non-white drivers over the past decade. The police department concentrated traffic enforcement on roads connecting Clark to major highways like the Garden State Parkway and nearby Rahway and Linden, areas with larger Black and Hispanic populations.
An analysis of stop data from 2015 to 2020 revealed that nearly 37% of drivers stopped by Clark police were Black or Hispanic, despite those groups making up less than 11% of the township's population. The lawsuit claims that more than 53% of vehicles stopped outside the township's boundaries were also targeted at Black and other non-white drivers.
State investigators based their findings on audio recordings, witness testimony, and documentary evidence showing a pattern of systemic harassment against Black motorists perceived as non-white. The complaint cites instances where Bonaccorso and police leadership used racial slurs to describe Black people.
The lawsuit paints Clark as a "sundown town" – a place where local leaders employed intimidation and aggressive policing to keep Black people out, particularly after dark. This led many Black drivers, including residents from surrounding communities, to avoid driving through the area altogether due to fear of being racially profiled and harassed.
Former Mayor Bonaccorso, Police Chief Pedro Matos, and Police Director Patrick Grady are named as defendants in the lawsuit, but none have responded to requests for comment.
The New Jersey attorney general's office has filed a lawsuit against the township of Clark, alleging that its mayor and police department engaged in discriminatory practices targeting Black drivers. The complaint claims that former Mayor Salvatore Bonaccorso instructed police to use racial slurs and tactics to "keep chasing the spooks out of town," effectively excluding Black people from the area.
According to the lawsuit, Clark police relied on flimsy excuses such as a "strong odor of marijuana" and focused on minor infractions to harass Black and other non-white drivers over the past decade. The police department concentrated traffic enforcement on roads connecting Clark to major highways like the Garden State Parkway and nearby Rahway and Linden, areas with larger Black and Hispanic populations.
An analysis of stop data from 2015 to 2020 revealed that nearly 37% of drivers stopped by Clark police were Black or Hispanic, despite those groups making up less than 11% of the township's population. The lawsuit claims that more than 53% of vehicles stopped outside the township's boundaries were also targeted at Black and other non-white drivers.
State investigators based their findings on audio recordings, witness testimony, and documentary evidence showing a pattern of systemic harassment against Black motorists perceived as non-white. The complaint cites instances where Bonaccorso and police leadership used racial slurs to describe Black people.
The lawsuit paints Clark as a "sundown town" – a place where local leaders employed intimidation and aggressive policing to keep Black people out, particularly after dark. This led many Black drivers, including residents from surrounding communities, to avoid driving through the area altogether due to fear of being racially profiled and harassed.
Former Mayor Bonaccorso, Police Chief Pedro Matos, and Police Director Patrick Grady are named as defendants in the lawsuit, but none have responded to requests for comment.
. I mean, who hasn't used a racial slur or two (or ten) in their lifetime? It's not like they were trying to discriminate on purpose – maybe just using some colorful language that slipped out during a tense moment. And those "flimsy excuses" for traffic stops sound super reasonable to me 
. I'm sure it was all just a big misunderstanding! 37% of drivers stopped being Black or Hispanic? That's actually kinda impressive – they must've had some great police officers who were really good at their jobs 
. And yeah, who wouldn't want to avoid driving through an area that's like a "sundown town" – I mean, it's not like that's a real thing that still happens in the US or anything 
.
This whole situation is super concerning 
, not just because of the racial profiling & harassment, but also 'cause it's about basic human rights & trust in law enforcement 
. As a nation, we should strive to be more inclusive & fair in our policing practices 
. The numbers are wild - 37% of drivers stopped were Black or Hispanic, yet they make up less than 11% of the population 
... that's just not right! 
It's time for change, and I hope this lawsuit leads to some real reforms & accountability 
.
This is so messed up! I'm literally shook by this whole thing. A "sundown town" like that's straight out of a movie, you know? Like from that one scene in 'The Help' where they're talking about how they'd have to stay inside the walls after dark because it was too dangerous for them. 
! Like, I get why people would be outraged about racial profiling, but how did we not know about this going on in Clark Township? I mean, 37% of drivers stopped were Black or Hispanic, but only 11% of the population... that's like, a huge discrepancy 
. And what's with these audio recordings and witness testimony? Are they, like, super reliable 
? And why did former Mayor Bonaccorso use racial slurs to describe people? What was he thinking? 
gotta wonder if anyone ever held them accountable for all this systemic harassment 
. It's wild that they were targeting Black drivers just because of their skin color 
. And 53% of vehicles outside the township's boundaries being targeted at non-white drivers? That's just unconscionable 
. But now, thankfully, someone's speaking out and demanding justice 
. We need more people holding these kinds of institutions accountable for their actions 
... excuse me, I mean, that's just a flimsy excuse.
Oh man I'm so done with this stuff! How can we even live like this in 2025?! I mean I knew about sundown towns in history books but come on who does that kinda thing now? The whole idea of being chased away from a community just because you're black or hispanic is just... 
... just think about it like this - someone's behavior can affect so many lives... if you're in power, use that power for good, not to hurt others 
. It's like when we treat others with respect and kindness, they feel seen and valued too... the problem here is that a small group of people made some really hurtful decisions that kept whole communities away from an entire town 
.
this is crazy man, a "sundown town"?! how can one person make an entire community feel like that? 
and what's with this mayor dude, Salvatore Bonaccorso? sounds like he had some seriously racist views 
.
like I thought we're livin in a better time or somethin'. This whole "sundown town" thing is super disturbing too 
it's crazy to think ppl would do that kinda stuff.
? Like, how can you even justify that kind of behavior? And to think they were basically telling Black people to "keep chasing the spooks outta town" ... 
. When we treat individuals as equals, with respect and dignity, we create a safer environment for everyone. The statistics are stark, but they're also a call to action - can we reimagine our relationships with one another, recognizing that our diversity is what makes us stronger?
. The fact that these cops were using racial slurs and tactics to keep Black people out of town is disgusting 
. It's crazy that Black drivers were being targeted based on flimsy excuses like a "strong odor of marijuana"