News and Alerts

Two Key Resources for NJ UUs Considering Sanctuary/Fair and Welcoming Actions

by Rev. Rob Gregson

The April 2017 Immigration Justice Task Force (IJTF) resolution supporting Unitarian Universalist opposition to increased ICE deportations/detentions under current Trump Administration executive orders Fair & Welcoming UU Resolution (June 2017)

A certificate program designed to inspire and encourage NJ congregations to organize locally to support the IJTF/UULMNJ resolution with direct actions to witness for immigration justice and reasonable, compassionate policy towards undocumented people in our state Fair and Welcoming UU Challenge (June 2017)

 

A Challenge to Our Congregations: Make NJ a Fair and Welcoming UU State!

by Rev. Rob Gregson

At the April 8 UULMNJ Plenary (Annual Meeting) held at the Ridgewood Unitarian Society, the Immigration Justice Task Force, in cooperation with the UULMNJ Board and Executive Director, publicized a Resolution of Support for Undocumented Persons Fair & Welcoming UU Resolution and a 7 month Challenge to NJ UU congregations to take action Fair and Welcoming UU Challenge.

Above are the links to the text of the Resolution and the Challenge to Act along with recommended action steps your community can take.

The proposal and the goal?  That every member UU congregation in New Jersey will take 3 out of the following 5+ actions to halt the misguided and overly harsh detentions and deportations of undocumented immigrants in our state and across the nation.

For more information, please get in touch with either Rev. Rob Gregson at the UULMNJ office or Ted Fetter, Chair, Immigration Task Force (fetter4@verison.net)

Reproductive Justice: Interfaith Letter to Congress

by UU FA Office

View Interfaith Letter to Congress here: 2017426FaithGroupsforPPFINALLetter

Information provided by Carol Loscalzo, Reproductive Justice Task Force Chair

Additional note from Glenn Northern, Domestic Program Senior Associate, Catholics for Choice:

The final interfaith letter that is being sent to Congress tomorrow morning.  The faith community came out in force.  Thank you very much. We are proud to stand together with you.   More than 60 national, state and local organizations signed onto the letter demonstrating their support for Planned Parenthood.  That might be the new reproductive health interfaith letter record!

Catholics for Choice is going to amplify very publicly that faith support as well as our own support for Planned Parenthood and we would encourage others to amplify our joint efforts as well.   As part of our amplification we will be using social media.  First thing tomorrow morning I will send a toolkit  that contains various resource that we are happy to share including our branded material.  If folks have capacity to use any of this material or need additional material please be in contact.  In the meantime, we would love to have the letter shared with your networks, websites etc. Thanks once again for all the work you do around these important issues.

 

Rev. Rob Gregson with former NJ Governor Jim Florio and UULMNJ Gun Violence Prevention Task Force chair, Jeannine Coyne

by UU FA Office

Honored to speak with former NJ Governor Jim Florio and UULMNJ Gun Violence Prevention Task Force chair, Jeannine Coyne at the UU Congregation of Cherry Hill on halting gun violence in our country. Gov. Florio was instrumental during his term at banning military style assault rifles in the Garden State–for which he deservedly got a standing ovation from the congregation. — at Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill. Sunday April 2nd, 2017

SUMMARY OF UULMNJ CONFERENCE AT UUCP FEBRUARY 26, 2017

by UU FA Office

SUMMARY OF
UULMNJ CONFERENCE AT UUCP
FEBRUARY 26, 2017

Overview:
Seventy-eight (78) people signed in and probably more participated without signing in. There were eleven tables of six or seven people and a few people sitting in chairs on the side.

Rev. Rob Gregson, the Director of UULMNJ, provided an inspirational overview of the six (6) UULMNJ Task Forces (in alphabetical order):
1. Criminal Justice Reform
2. Economic Justice
3. Environmental Protection
4. Gun Violence Prevention
5. Immigration Reform
6. Reproductive Justice

He mentioned that UULMNJ also provides direct resources to congregations and our coalition allies in the areas of Local Policing/Black Lives Matter Congregational Toolkits. This project is aimed at education local law enforcement and correctional communities about antiracist, violence-and bias reduction agenda.

He also discussed UULMNJ Legal Advocacy Project (LAP) to move legislation that reflects UU values through NJ Legislature such as the current bills to support confidentiality for women’s reproductive health care workers and clinicians. Another legislative effort from the Environmental task force is efforts to move through the Senate S-1707, the Renewable Energy Transition Act (RETA). RETA would by year 2050, require 80% of all electricity generated in the NJ to be from renewable energy sources: solar, wind, and methane gas from landfills.

Another newer initiative from the Immigration Reform Task Force is Sanctuary Congregations/cities project to educate UUs and allies to respond to harsh regulations on undocumented immigrants in NJ.

Purpose of the Conference:
The purpose of the conference was to solicit UUCP congregants’ ideas on the question: “In the age of Trump, what actions do you most want UULMNJ Task Forces to be prepared to take?” Clara S. Haignere helped direct this effort. Each of the participants was instructed to write down their ideas in response to this question on a 4X6 card without discussing it with others. Then each small group made a master list from their table’s ideas and selected the one action they designated as was most important and wrote that action area on one of the three white boards.

2017 Annual Meeting – April 8th – 9am-3pm – Register Now

by UU FA Office


The “General Assembly” for UULMNJ and supporters from across New Jersey: Saturday, April 8 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, 113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood NJ

Keynote Speaker: 

The Rev. Charles Boyer, African Methodist Episcopal minister, inspirational speaker and NJ legislative activist 

Theme for the day: 

“All that UULMNJ CAN do to push for justice and stand against the inequities of Trump and Congress’ plan for America”

Task Force meetings: 

Immigration Reform, Gun Violence Prevention, Criminal Justice Reform, Environmental Justice, Reproductive Justice, and Economic Justice

Liaison and Newcomers Training Opportunity

Why come to the UULMNJ April Plenary?  

Simply put: because we already have a clear VISION, TRACK RECORD, and UU-inspired ORGANIZATION up and running, ready to champion our dearest values and hopes in the public square.  UULMNJ focuses entirely on the most important issues of the day that excite (and rile up) UUs and our allies across New Jersey.  So come on DOWN, share in that energy and spirit that draws us to this faith and will propel us forward, together, through whatever is to come.  

For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, please contact Regina: admin@uulmnj.org
There will be vegetarian and gluten-free lunch options.

3rd Annual New Jersey MUUsic Festival

by UU FA Office

 

Join in a celebration of our faith, equality, compassion and justice through song. Music ensembles from congregations across the state will showcase their finest and come together for a UU All-State performance! Our 3rd Annual event will be at the UU Congregation of Paramus.

You don’t want to miss this inspiring event!

button buy tix
Tickets go on sale February 1st and seats are limited!

We Need Your Help to Address the Racial Disparities in Juvenile Justice and Criminal Justice System!

by UU FA Office

It may come as a shock to some that New Jersey has the highest rate of racial disparity in the nation when it comes to sentencing and incarceration. The Sentencing Project, a national research and advocacy organization, found that African Americans are incarcerated at five times the rate of whites. In New Jersey the ratio is even higher: 12 to 1. In fact, in New Jersey in 2014, one in 31 of all African American adult males was in prison. New Jersey has the highest black/white disparity in its prisons among the states, even though we have reduced our overall prison population in general over the last several years. African Americans make up approximately 13% of the state’s population — yet they compromise over 61% of the state’s prison population.

We ask for your help to address this glaring and unfair racial disparity in New Jersey’s criminal justice system. Bipartisan legislation recently passed the NJ Senate and will soon be considered in the Assembly. The legislation – Senate Bill 677/Assembly Bill 3677 – authorizes racial impact statements for proposed criminal justice policies. This approach would be similar to environmental and fiscal impact statements, assisting legislators to detect unforeseen policy ramifications before they happen.

How You Can Help

Step 1: Call and Email Members of the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee

· Chairman Daniel Benson (phone: 609-631-0198 email: AsmBenson@njleg.org)
· Vice Chairman Joe Danielsen (phone: 609-847-3500 email: AsmDanielsen@njleg.org)
· Honorable Arthur Barclay (phone: 609-847-3500 email: AsmBarclay@njleg.org)
· Honorable Michael Patrick Carroll (phone: 609-847-3400 email: AsmCarroll@njleg.org)
· Honorable Annette Chaparro (phone: 609- 847-3500 email: AswChaparro@njleg.org)
· Honorable Erik Peterson (phone: 609-847-3400 email: AsmPeterson@njleg.org)
· Honorable Nancy J. Pinkin (phone: 609-847-3500 email: AswPinkin@njleg.org)
· Honorable David P. Rible (phone: 609-847-3400 email: AsmRible@njleg.org)
· Honorable Shavonda E. Sumter (phone: 609-847-3500) email: AswSumter@njleg.org)

  • Edit/personalize the form email. It makes your message more effective. Also, confirm you are a constituent of one of the Committee members here. If so, be sure to mention that too.

Use the following sample script: “As a New Jersey resident, I ask you to cosponsor Assembly Bill 3677, which authorizes racial impact statements for certain bills and regulations that affect sentencing. The measure helps address fairness in the New Jersey criminal justice system.”

Other talking points:

  • New Jersey has the highest rate of racial disparity among African American and white prisoners.
  • Fairness dictates the use of racial impact statements in considering proposed sentencing laws.
  • Other states: Connecticut, Iowa, and Oregon have adopted racial impact statements.
  • Assembly Bill 3677 will contribute to better policymaking. Racial impact statements provide lawmakers with information prior to deliberating on proposed sentencing laws.

 Step 2: CLICK HERE  TO SIGN ON AS A SUPPORTER IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY

Step 3: Spread the Word

  • Forward this email to your family members, friends, and colleagues and ask them to TAKE ACTION.
  • Share your calls and the call-in information on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks for all you’ve done already and for all you continue to do to make New Jersey fairer!

In faith and abiding hope,
Rev. Rob Gregson, Executive Director

Interview with Rev. Rob Gregson of UULMNJ at Rally – Protesters Call on Mayor to Make New Brunswick a ‘Sanctuary City’

by UU FA Office

Demonstrators are calling on the city administration to refuse to enforce President Trump’s executive order on immigration
Rev. Karen Johnston from the East Brunswick congregation was also interviewed at our post behind the Standing on the Side of Love banner.

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

ACTION ALERT: Ask Gov. Christie to Restrict Solitary in NJ!

by UU FA Office

In January, President Obama put major limits on solitary confinement in federal prisons. But New Jersey is still lagging far behind.

The Governor currently has a bill on his desk, the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act, that could change that. The Senate bill, S51, passed by a vote of 23-16 on June 23, 2016. The bill passed the Assembly, A547, on October 20 with a vote of 45-26-1.

take action button

This bill, S51/A547, would dramatically limit when New Jersey subjects people to extreme isolation for long periods of time and create a total ban on the practice for vulnerable populations who suffer most from it.

This bill would:

  • Require facilities to use isolated confinement only as a last resort, when less restrictive treatment would pose too much of a risk;
  • Prohibit isolation for more than 15 consecutive days or 20 days in a 60-day period;
  • Ban isolation for members of vulnerable populations, such as people who have mental illnesses, pregnant women, and people with various disabilities;
  • Require medical clearance and daily evaluations when a prisoner is held in isolation.

Solitary infographic(1)Long-term isolated confinement poses extremely harmful effects on any prisoner, but especially members of vulnerable populations, such as people with mental illnesses, pregnant women, people under 21, and people over 55. It can worsen existing mental illnesses and inflict psychological trauma where it didn’t exist before. Alternatives to isolated confinement have proven to be successful, because they don’t come with the socially destructive side effects that result from psychological torture.

Most prisoners will re-enter society once they’ve served their time. Once they emerge, who do we want those people to be? Most likely your answer does not include someone whose time in isolated confinement has left them more psychologically wounded and socially ill-equipped than before they entered prison or jail.

This bill won’t eliminate isolated confinement if it’s deemed necessary. But it will put much-needed protections in place to make sure that its use is humane and rare.

Learn more about solitary confinement in New Jersey

Read our Criminal Justice Task Force’s Solitary Confinement Statement.

Learn more about our Criminal Justice Reform Task Force 

Laurice Grae-Hauck is the Outreach Coordinator of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ.