EASTON, Pa. — Easton City Councilwoman Taiba Sultana said late Friday that she has filed a formal police report after being subjected to "aggressive harassment, intimidation and politically motivated threats" during the city Christmas Parade.
"While leading the parade in her official capacity, Councilwoman Sultana was confronted by an individual who approached her in an angry and hostile manner," Sultana said in a news release.
“No public official should have to endure threats or intimidation while serving their community, especially at a city holiday event. This behavior is unacceptable, dangerous and will not be tolerated.”Easton City Councilwoman Taiiba Sultana
The person "shouted derogatory remarks, invoked her past political opponent and told her 'You shouldn’t be here,' and 'that you have no shame,'” Sultana said in the release.
Sultana said the person continued "approaching her, escalating the situation and creating a threatening, unsafe atmosphere at a family event attended by children, seniors and city staff."
“This was not a simple disagreement,” Sultana said in her release.
“This was targeted harassment of an elected official performing her duties, and it crossed every line of civility, decency and public safety.
“No public official should have to endure threats or intimidation while serving their community, especially at a city holiday event.
"This behavior is unacceptable, dangerous and will not be tolerated.”
Additional online messages
Sultana also said she received "vulgar, hateful and threatening online messages, including profane statements and threats of physical harm."
Sultana said the online messages also were documented and submitted to law enforcement.
“I will not allow political intimidation, harassment or threats to silence my work or dictate where I can or cannot stand in my own city."Easton City Councilwoman Taiba Sultana
In her release, Sultana included a copy of the police report that shows it was filed at 5:50 p.m. at the city police station.
It identifies the person who she said harassed her as Jeremy Joseph, whom she wrote "approached me in an aggressive manner."
"This was not enough for him," she wrote. "He kept going after me and kept saying things like 'You have no shame' and that 'you are phony and fake."
She said he also "mentioned the name of [state] Rep. Bob Freeman. He said, 'I hate what you did to Freeman (Freeman was my opponent in 2024 election)."
“I will not allow political intimidation, harassment or threats to silence my work or dictate where I can or cannot stand in my own city," Sultana said in her release.
"This kind of behavior whether in person or online, is a direct attack on democracy itself. Every resident deserves leadership that stands firm in the face of hostility.
"I will continue to serve the people of Easton with courage, integrity, and unwavering commitment no matter who attempts to threaten or intimidate me.”
Sultana said the incident "reflects a troubling national trend of hostility toward public servants, particularly women and elected officials of color."
She called on the community "to uphold respect, safety, and accountability in civic spaces."
Sultana said the incident "reflects a troubling national trend of hostility toward public servants, particularly women and elected officials of color."
Subject responds
Joseph on Saturday gave a different account of the incident.
In a Facebook post, Joseph, who is the leader of The Big Easy Easton Brass, a brass band, and one of the organizers of the parade, said Sultana "approached me before our parade, acting like we're friends."
"It was in public, I didn't threaten or swear at her. I gave her honest feedback. I am very disappointed in the politician she's become after initially believing in her — I told her that."Jeremy Joseph
"I let her know what I think of her political tactics," he wrote in the post. "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."
Easton police in August charged Sultana with assaulting her son. Facing charges of simple assault, she was granted entry into an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or ARD, program.
Upon her completing it, the charges were dropped.
"I am absolutely disgusted by her behavior and political positioning," Joseph said in his Facebook post. "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.
"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 are not welcome at my parades."
In a written interview, Joseph said, "I'm a community band leader volunteering my time. She walked in front of the parade as if she was leading it after I told her what I thought of her as a politician.
"It was in public, I didn't threaten or swear at her. I gave her honest feedback. I am very disappointed in the politician she's become after initially believing in her — I told her that."
Joseph said he had not been contacted by Easton Police as of Saturday morning.
