On Friday night, the Big Easy Easton Brass Band participated in the City's Christmas parade. I've had the opportunity to view a few YouTube videos of this group, and they make me feel like I'm at a Mardi Gras in New Orleans. They wear outrageous outfits, even stilts and play with such positive energy that you can't help but smile. Unfortunately, the leader of this fun band - Jeremy Joseph - ran into some negative energy that night for refusing to be deferential to City Council member Taiba Sultana. Sultana not only complained to police that she was harassed by Joseph, but she also made sure to prepare and send a news release to Lehigh Valley News about the incident. She also posted about it on her Facebook page, saying this:
Last night while participating Easton’s Christmas Parade, I was harassed and threatened not because of anything I did wrong, but because some people cannot accept that a woman of color,and a fighter for working families has a seat in power.And I will not accept this intimidation. Not now. Not ever.They are an attack on every person who believes in a more just, fair, and inclusive Easton.This is what happens when you challenge old power structures.This is what happens when you stand up for working people and seniors.I have filed a police report. Thanks to the random public cameras for recording the evidence. I have documented every threat.And I will keep showing up louder, stronger, and more determined than ever.You cannot bully someone who is rooted in community. You cannot intimidate someone who serves with purpose.And you cannot weaken a movement built on justice.Easton deserves leadership that does not bow to hate, fear, or harassment.And that is exactly what I intend to deliver.
Bandleader Jeremy Joseph has a completely different take. Here's his response from his Facebook page.
ok Easton, here we go!Taiba approached me before our parade, acting like we're friends. I let her know what I think of her political tactics - I told her she doesn't support the people she says she does, that we know what she is after years of watching her on city council - that we know what she is from her own children that told the police on camera that she was physically abusing them. She is a fraud. I am absolutely disgusted by her behavior and political positioning. I said all of this to her, then she proceeded to march in front of my band as we paraded down the street, acting like she's leading the parade - I'm the one who said she has "no shame" as she walked in front of the community band I work so hard to keep going.Now, you are going to file a report that I was harassing you!!!!! You were getting honest feedback from the community Taiba! Deal with it!You really have no shame! Councilwoman Taiba Sultana Taiba Sultana - you are not welcome at my parades. (She'll remove this tag)
Sultana insisted on marching in front of the band anyway, as though she was leading it, assisted by her photographer husband.
Joseph went to the police station This is what he learned.
I just got back from the Easton police station. Taiba had no evidence, video or otherwise. She could not explain to the police what I said that was threatening or harassing. She said I created an “unsafe” environment - which the officer asked, “What was unsafe about it? There was a police officer right there and hundreds of people?” She couldn’t answer.But yet, she goes to the press and accuses me of violent threats? She posts on her social media accusing me of being racist and sexist. She states I approached her, when there were plenty of witnesses that saw the opposite. She approached me.Does she just get to get away with this?
Sultana apparently intends to run again for the State House or State Senate so she likes to present herself as a victim of racism, sexism who stands up to bullies.
Except she's the bully.
This incident has resulted in public reactions from some people I respect.
Easton City Council member Frank Pintabone: "I’m sorry to read this. You are such an asset to our city. You and the band did us proud again last night."
Easton City Council member Crystal Rose: "Jeremy, I want to thank you for everything you do for this community. Your dedication to the band and to creating inclusive, positive events for our residents is something I’ve always admired and deeply appreciated. The time, energy, and heart you pour into Easton does not go unnoticed.
46 comments:
Jeremy Joseph is one of the kindest, most community-driven people I have ever met. The one requirement for being part of the BEEB is not that you be a good musician, but rather that you be a relatively decent human being that wants to bring joy to the community through music.
His story is accurate, as the many other BEEB members that were standing with him at the time the conversation happened can attest.
I'm in the video she posted because I was marching right up front with the band, and I was confused why she was acting like she was with us when she was explicitly asked not to be.
Anyone who has ever interacted with Jeremy knows that there is not an ounce of hatred in him and Easton is lucky to have someone like him bringing joy everywhere he goes.
She is a cancer. She will be beat badly if she runs for the state house or states senate.
Here is the sad part, her husband will now bring the BS to Northampton County. Taiba views her husband’s win as a major accomplishment instead of him just riding the blue wave. He was last out of 5, and 3,000 votes behind 4th place.
She needs to be put in her place, namely a psycho ward
She is Crazy. Chaotic, Criminal And every time she runs for anything, we must remind the voters of this.
This vile woman inserts herself all the time where she can use a situation to cloud her false
Self serving intentions. She will be gone from city council soon, but her husband will bring a new stench to the county. This county council will need to be aware and neutralize any wrongful intentions and falsehoods created by his/her presence. Both her husband and her should never have been introduced into the local political arena at all, clearly they have muddied the climate.
C’mon that’s the future of the Democrat party right there. Her husband is now on County council, this is going to be fun! You’ll have him, crazy Kelly, and Jeff the socialist lol.
She’s so bad she ruins a parade……….wow. Maybe this gentleman can sue her.
Not the first parade she crashed this fall!
I wonder how Lori V-H will deal with her when she runs next year’s council. She hates these two and has said so on many occasions. Let the shi# show begin!
Her lies and dishonesty sound like the Republican Party actually. I mean you see these unfounded convictions being passed around like a slap book at the federal level? She must be a closet Republican only way this makes sense.
Anon 11:37. The Dems DID NOT support her in the last to elections she ran in. She will never get Democratic Party support again Hell, in Bernie’s article, the Weiss chair the Northampton County Dems called her out
As long as he is a Dem and the Dems are winning, either he will ride the blue strength for years, or be challenged and voted out by a new challenger….there is no other way to dump this guy …unless he commits such a horrendous public crime
that he MUST be removed.
She certainly isn't a Republican. How RIDICULOUS
Her and her husband are the equivalent of Kelly and Ed Keegan. They are cancers to this county and will run it to the ground. You get what you vote for.
I like how everyone is attacking her just because she is a powerful POC and a woman. If she was a white male you would all be praising her for this.
Four more years of this! LOL! On council, Nadeem is just going to be her mouthpiece so get your tickets for the Big Top. The coming county council clown show may top the current Easton city council clown show she created. It's time to add a fourth "C". Crazy. Chaotic. Criminal. Clownish.
That's not fair, Ed is a good guy.
Taiba Sultana has been a well respected progressive stalwart for ages, the patriarchy and it's lead henchman(BOH) seek to diminish her preeminence by grotesque mis characterizations and out right fabrications.
The only persons who can heal this damaged nation is a female BIPOC preferably of foreign origin, Taiba is on par with Ilhan Omar and Rashida Talib when the tigers mobilize for her next campaign we shall see a strong unchastened fighter come out swinging
She’s a democratic socialist I thought. That’s the faction taking over the D party now. Thats where the youth and momentum is. Mandami proved it.
So she’s reporting a crime right? Harassment. It’s a summary offense. If investigated and it’s found to not occurred she should be charged with False Reports To Law Enforcement.
Please stop sniffing the aerosols and take your meds!
Powerful what? POS
JJ sounds like a bully and carries a settler colonial mindset into something that should be devoid of such toxic thinking, this was a community event and Taiba had every right to be out front as she has been in the eye of many storms it's what brings her power.
Many men in leadership feel threatened by those whose creedo is " Serve, Pray, Slay" they feel emasculated probably more so in cases where there wasn't much to start with like little JJ
Ms Sultana should contact the ADL and or SPLC and obtain representation this was clearly some type of Islamaphobic incident this clown JJ thinks the band is his when in fact many members of that organization are Taiba supporters his barking up the wrong tree is offensive
Treating her statement as news was a mistake. This nonsense should have been ignored.
She's a Democrat. She's the vanguard of the new party. No moderation. No surrender. Democrats are going a new way.
What power????. She just lost. She’s an idiot
Still can't believe her husband MNQ beat the slate of Republicans.
Hilarious
I do not know Ed Keegan and cast no aspersions at him.
I doubt very much that LVH will be council president next year. It will be Kraft or possibly Warren, to help him in his bid for the state house.
She reported an argument as harassment. In her mind, any criticism of her is harassment. A false report requires proof that she knowingly gave false information about another with the intent of incriminating that person. You can't prove she knowingly gave false information even though it is objectively false information.
Ah, humor. Ar Ar.
I had this discussion with someone last night. I'd be inclined to ignore it except that she clearly wants to run for either the state house or state senate, and thus, it is important that voters be forewarned.
Clown …you give away your bias in one word.
Thank you..Ms Sultana.
A well respected leader for ages? I think not, unless you are confused with the word “ages” and its meaning. Maybe she’s past her prime.
Crazy. Chaotic. Criminal. Taiba is all three.
lol is this comment real? These people are not well.
The comment from "Woke Bloke" is satire.
Well, no one would know how evil she is and how combative if the news ignored her. She is a. veritable gold mine of rants for newspapers. We we all are Waiting for her to commit the ultimate felony to be arrested,
It doesn’t matter. As long as she has a ‘D’ next to her name democrats will vote for them. Look at her husband winning. Party over common sense. Now deal with him and her for the next 4 years. Good luck.
She tried to get a community band leader arrested. She campaigned at a bereavement dinner. She falsely accused the police of racism. She is a child abuser, if you believe the video of her children saying so. Who in the world are you? This is beyond obvious.
Hey Taiba! Because the only negative comments against Jeremy are from fake accounts it must be you. Colonial mindset? Do you know he's a descendant of Lebanese immigrants who were the first to settle in Easton? And they needed no resolutions to thrive here. You messed with the wrong bull, Taiba!
Except she could not explain to the police and there were no witnesses that he said anything racist. Hey Taiba, this must be you on a fake account!!
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