News and Alerts

RHM 10/23/20 Rev. Rob in the News

by Rev. Rob Gregson Leave a comment

On the criminal justice front, Rob has been involved in continuing discussions on the structure of the Restorative Justice in NJ group. Restorative Justice in NJ came out of the Criminal Justice Task Force’s “Common Read” of Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration and a Road to Reparations by Danielle Sered.  A multi-faith, multi-organizational effort led by CJTF member and UU Tricia Idrobo, the group hopes to develop a database of NJ programs and practitioners, schools, youth diversion, etc.

On Reproductive Justice, Rev. Rob was invited to attend Gov. Murphy’s press conference launch of the Reproductive Freedom Act, an attempt to codify as well as update outdated legislation to include trans rights, etc.  Rob was a signatory to the NJ Interfaith Council letter endorsing reproductive health care services.

RHM 10/23/20 Repro Freedom Act

by Rev. Rob Gregson Leave a comment

What Is the Reproductive Justice Task Force Involved With Today?

Championing Reproductive Freedom Act:  On Oct. 2, Governor Murphy and many of our coalition partners (Planned Parenthood, The Thrive Coalition NJ, Cherry Hill Women’s Center, etc.) announced new legislation called The Reproductive Freedom Act. The Reproductive Freedom Act protects and expands access to birth control and pregnancy-related care including abortion by breaking down medically-unnecessary restrictions that only serve to block access to care. It also secures a future that safeguards reproductive care, upholds basic rights and justice, and respects decision-making throughout pregnancy.

Passing the Reproductive Freedom Act will help protect everyone’s ability to receive reproductive health care, from birth control to pregnancy-related care, including safe, appropriate and individually-sensitive abortion.

A Win for Women/People Incarcerated at Edna Mahan Correctional Center for Women: With encouragement/pressure from your emails and calls (Thank You!!), Gov. Murphy mid-September signed Resolution SJR-79/AJR-167 (Greenstein, Gill/Vainieri Huttle, Tucker, Murphy) to create a commission to study sexual assault, misconduct, and harassment by staff against inmates in State correctional facilities.

RHM 10/23/20 Issues Conf. keynote speakers

by Rev. Rob Gregson Leave a comment

Ms. Sampson, Senior Counsel and Director of Racial Justice at the nationally-recognized Brady Campaign, works to prevent gun violence through cultivating a committed, informed, and effective pro bono attorney network, educating the courts on gun violence related cases, and making the connection between gun violence prevention and racial justice. In 2016, Kelly and Jon Lowy co-authored The Right Not To Be Shot: Public Safety, Private Guns, and the Constellation of Constitutional Liberties, published in the Georgetown Journal of Law and Policy. Originally from Detroit, Kelly is especially interested in addressing gun violence’s disproportionate impact on the Black community. Kelly earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan and a J.D from Columbia Law school.

Mr. Patel is a Gun Violence Prevention activist and gun violence survivor from Jersey City.  A student at Rutgers University majoring in Criminal Justice, Jai was an organizer for Jersey City’s March For Our Lives in 2018, an event which drew over 3,000 people. He founded the Hudson County and Rutgers Chapters of Students Demand Action, and sits on the Students Demand Action National Advisory Board.

Support a New Jersey Commission on Racial Reparations

by Charles Loflin Leave a comment

Many Unitarian Universalists, along with other Americans of good faith and conscience, have struggled for years with the searing legacy of 450 years of legalized slavery, Jim Crow laws and other policies of institutionalized racism North, South, East and West across the United States up to the present day. Many of our congregations in New Jersey are supporting or studying the adoption of an 8th Principle, one that would directly address the spiritual and ethical demands of this shameful legacy on our faith movement today.

A711/S322, to create a “New Jersey Reparations Task Force,” is expressly designed to help advance work for racial justice here in the Garden State. The bill would study reparations proposals for African-Americans in New Jersey.*

The task force would consist of 11 members, comprised of four legislators and seven citizens. This bill, among other things, requires the task force to:  (1) examine the institution of slavery within the State of New 43 Jersey;  (2) examine the extent to which the State of New Jersey and the federal government prevented, opposed, or restricted efforts of former enslaved persons and their descendants who are considered United States’ citizens to economically thrive upon the ending of slavery, and examine the lingering negative effects of slavery on living  African-Americans and on society in New Jersey and the United States.

The Task force will make recommendations for what remedies should be awarded, through what instrumentalities, and to whom those remedies should be awarded; and address how said recommendations comport with national and international standards of remedy for wrongs and injuries caused by the State.  An interim report is required within 12 months with a final report for action to be delivered within 24 months.

The Assembly bill has been sent to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee chaired by Asm. Vincent Mazzeo. The NJ Senate version goes before the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee chaired by Sen. James Beach.

The Assembly bill is sponsored by Assemblypeople Shavonda Sumter, Britnee Timberlake, and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson.

The Senate bill is sponsored by Senators Ron Rice, Sandra Cunningham, Troy Singleton, Leona Weinberg, Shirley Turner, and Nina Gill.

Please give your “yes” request to the committee chairs and members by clicking the button above or below.

In faith, with love, and for justice,

The Board and Staff at UU FaithAction NJ

*With thanks to Rohn Hein, UU Cherry Hill and other UU organizers for bringing this bill to our attention

Take Action

Reparations Discussion @ UU Princeton Oct. 29 7 p.m.

by Rev. Rob Gregson Leave a comment

Racial Justice Program: The Case for Reparations to Descendants of Enslaved People

 Have you been wondering what Reparations are all about? The ACLU believes the issue of reparations should be seriously considered by all Americans and some institutions have already taken action. Last year, the Princeton Theological Seminary announced it had pledged to spend $27 million reparation on scholarships and other initiatives to address its historical ties to slavery, in what appears to be the biggest effort of its kind.

The UU Congregation of Princeton Racial Justice Task Force has invited local attorney and activist, Caroline Clarke, Esq., to give her presentation with time for Q&A:

Date and Time: Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 7 pm on zoom:

Please register in advance for this meeting:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJItcO2gpjssHNz23c1dpPKH43ByguyYI8re 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.  The program is free and open to the public.

Registration Open for the 2020 Fall Issues Conference

by Charles Loflin Leave a comment

The Fall Issues Conference is at the heart of our ministry together as UU social justice advocates in the state of NJ.  Come help us choose the key issues for 2020-21!

This year we’ve chosen to highlight our Gun Violence Prevention Task Force with two amazing keynote speakers, as well as making a special outreach effort to youth and campus activists. If you know youth/young adults who might be interested, please invite them to check us out.

Read More “Registration Open for the 2020 Fall Issues Conference”