Category: UUFANJ News

Criminal Justice Reform

Criminal Justice Reform

Criminal Justice Reform Task Force Chair:
Tom Moran (Morristown UU Fellowship)
Contact: criminaljustice@uufaithaction.org

As Unitarian Universalist, we believe the American criminal justice system is one that uses mechanisms of racial and social control that conflict with our UU principles, including: justice, equity and compassion in human relations; the inherent worth and dignity of every person; and the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.

The racial dimension of mass incarceration is its most striking feature. Here in New Jersey, Black people make up approximately 15% of the population, yet 59% of the prison population.  White people make up only 22% of the prison population.

At the annual UU FaithAction New Jersey Issues Conference, the Criminal Justice Reform task force identifies key areas of focus.  We then work with other organizations and coalitions around the state to advocate for laws and regulations that hold the promise of impacting the forces that fuel incarceration and that create inhumane conditions within our corrections facilities.

Click on the links for each of the priorities below to learn more about the issues, our coalition partners, related legislation, and to find other resources, including our “fact sheets” (position papers):

Criminal Justice Reform Books, Ted Talks, Podcasts

Economic Justice

Economic Justice Task Force Chair: 
Jerry Fried (The UU Congregation at Montclair)  
Email: economic_justice@uufaithaction.org

As advocates for a more just and equitable State, Economic Justice is at the heart of what we do. Without a basic level of security, none of us is able to fully participate in our democracy.

UU FaithAction’s Economic Justice Task Force advocates for State policies that would raise minimum wages and deliver better employment opportunities and housing conditions for low-income workers and their families.

Each year, our members propose and consider the most pressing issues at our Fall Issues Conference and select three for the coming year. UUFA’s Executive Director helps connect us with other NJ advocacy groups so we can attend their meetings, align our efforts, and join their events. By each January, we do our best to join together to select Leaders who will liaise monthly with our statewide coalition partner organizations and sketch out an annual Campaign for each issue. Each year, EJTF will create at least one statewide educational event about one or more of the issues.

Each Campaign is composed of a) engaging and enlisting others to participate in one major statewide rally or other large gathering, b) testifying or enlisting and supporting testimony in advocacy for legislation advancing the issue, c) attending coalition-partner meetings, aligning our efforts with monthly updates at our monthly Zoom videoconference.

Our Legislative Priorities for 2018/2019

 

The Fight For 15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeK29929_9g

Goal:  Advocacy for a $15/hour NJ minimum wage for ALL workers

Leaders: Shane Weber shanewebernj@gmail.com,  and Nick Lewis ozballnick@gmail.com

Status: The NJ legislature voted on January 31, 2019 to adopt a $15 wage, with a slow implementation schedule and “carve-outs” for tipped and farm workers. We will continue to advocate to eliminate the carve-outs.

Partners: The Poor People’s Campaign (through its NJ branch which is the NJ Prophetic Agenda) https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/ , The Time To Care Coalition http://www.njtimetocare.com/ ,  and Working Families Party http://workingfamilies.org/states/new-jersey/

 

Campaign for NJ Marijuana Legalization  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvK8wAIPoHw

Goal:  Legalization WITH “Restoration” and “Reparations” in order to help undo the damage done by the “War on Drugs”.

Leader:  Jerry Fried  jerryfriedhome@gmail.com

Status:  The Murphy Administration’s campaign promise of legalization as a policy to advance social justice is NOT moving forward smoothly and Senator Scutari has proposed a legalization policy that (although it does offer some “justice” language) is not very strong on our primary concerns: easy expungement of the conviction records of low-level offenders, using significant revenues from a marijuana tax to support community groups and families in the low-income areas most affected by the failed “war on drugs”, and assuring that jobs and business opportunities be made available to a full range of individuals and groups (not simply the wealthy predominantly white and male entrepreneurs who have jumped into the fray with investment dollars).

Partners:  The Drug Policy Alliance http://www.drugpolicy.org/

 

Campaign for a NJ State Bank – working with Sally Gellert to bring other UUFA task forces to this effort. Incidentally, the goals of #2 above would be far easier to achieve with a public bank option, since commercial banks that operate across state lines are generally unable to provide services to marijuana businesses. (see https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/03/how-nations-only-state-owned-bank-became-envy-wall-street/ to learn why this is SUCH AN EXCITING POSSIBILITY FOR NJ!)

Goal:   Creation of a NJ State Bank modeled on the Bank of Nebraska

Leader:  Jerry Fried  jerryfriedhome@gmail.com

Status:  Nia Gill and Richard Codey, both Essex County Democrats, have introduced legislation (S-885) to create the bank, set up a Board of Directors, spell out the activities that the bank could undertake both in investing funds and lending money, and establish auditing and oversight of the institution. That measure is awaiting a hearing by the Senate Commerce Committee.

Partners:  Work Environment Council https://njwec.org/ ,  UUs For a Just Economic Future (IUUJEC) – Sally Gellert, liaison  http://uujec.com/  and Banking on New Jersey https://bankingonnewjersey.org/

 

Our “Signature Legislation”

 

Goal:  To minimize or eliminate the stigma of those receiving free and reduced price lunches in school

Leader:  Jerry Fried  jerryfriedhome@gmail.com

Status:  A bill proposed by Asw. Shavonda Sumter has virtually the same goals as our own, albeit in a FAR less comprehensive and specific form. Her office likes our specific language but questions some legal issues so the language is now in the hands of the Assembly’s Office of Legislative Services, which is charged with addressing these issues. Will be following up.

Partners:  Advocates For Children of New Jersey https://acnj.org/

 

Economic Justice Books, Ted Talks, Podcasts

Why Attend the Fall Issues Conference?  Check out this video!

You Tube Video Fall Issues Conference

Our History

In 2006 the UU Congregation of Princeton, with new minister Forrest Gilmore, surveyed its congregants to find a very exciting commitment in the social justice arena. One area chosen was to establish the UU Legislative Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ), now UU FaithAction NJ. A $60,000 fund was dedicated to establishing the group, envisioned as a collaboration of all 21 New Jersey UU congregations advocating for the values of Unitarian Universalists within the NJ legislature.

In 2007, UUC/Princeton appointed a five person committee to spearhead this effort led by Elaine Nigam and Doug Rhodes. New Jersey congregations were contacted and UUs in the state began considering the formation of this social justice network.

In 2008, a statewide Steering Committee, Co-Chaired by Rohn Hein of Cherry Hill and Lynne Quinto of Washington Crossing, surveyed UUs across the state for priority issues. Economic Justice, Health Care, and the Environment were chosen.

The organization was designed as two sub-groups: a ministry dedicated to education and research and the public policy arm coordinating grassroots advocacy and working to establish public policy that is consistent with Unitarian Universalist principles and purposes.

In 2010, Task Forces led advocacy through the Congregational Action Teams joining with other like-minded faith-based and secular organizations in the priority issues. Especially strong efforts were organized around affordable housing and the Emerging Issues of Marriage Equality and Immigration. Rallies and hearings were attended; lay members and clergy spoke at events, reported in the press, television and other media.

The Legislative Ministry Becomes a Force

In 2011, Rev. Craig Hirshberg became our part-time Executive Director after our first Director, Rev. Julia Hamilton, accepted a position as a minister in Santa Barbara, CA.

In 2012, the marriage equality issue moved to the forefront in NJ, and was being actively debated within the state legislature. Rev. Hirshberg testified in favor of marriage equality before the state legislature in January. 21 UU clergy signed a letter in support of marriage equality.

The keynote address at the 2012 plenary session, “How Does New Jersey Measure Up: Citizens United and the Fairness of Our Elections,” was presented by Ingrid Reed recently retired as a Policy Analyst and the Director of the New Jersey Project at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers, and a member of the UU Princeton congregation.

Rev. Craig Hirshberg and group member Sally Gellert attended the senate committee hearing on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The Economic Justice group received strong newspaper pickup for their statement on Occupy Wall Street. With leadership by the Ridgewood congregation one of our focus areas, reproductive justice, was chosen as a Congregational Study Action Issue (CSAI) by the UUA General Assembly. In the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, the Legislative Ministry formed a new focus for the Emerging Issues task force on Gun Violence Prevention to be led by Diane Finn and Lew Maltby.

Rev Hirshberg was asked to serve on the national steering committee for State Advocacy Networks (SANS).

UULMNJ Builds Awareness

At the end of 2013, nineteen of the twenty-one UU congregations in New Jersey are affiliated.  The major funding for the UULMNJ Inc. is from the congregations. Fundraisers for the UULMNJ PPN Inc. are conducted yearly.

We sponsored a marriage equality rally in Morristown during the denomination’s District annual meeting.

After raising over $9,000 and hiring a Faith Organizer devoted to the cause of marriage equality, the UULMNJ contributed to Governor Christie’s decision to drop the appeal of the judicial opinion holding that denying marriage to same-sex couples is unconstitutional.

In 2013, videos documenting our views on the New Jim Crow, affordable housing, immigration detention, and climate change were produced.

The New York Times and Bergen Record both published comments by Rev. Hirshberg regarding gun violence prevention. Rev. Hirshberg spoke at a gun violence vigil in Flemington. In June, Rev. Hirshberg, along with members of six UU congregations, testified at a NJ Public Safety hearing.

Rev. Robert Moore, ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, delivered the keynote address on preventing gun violence at the 2013 annual plenary.

In 2014, Rev. Hirshberg testified at the Senate Budget committee and submitted testimony to the Assembly Judiciary concerning bail reform and spoke at meetings in Hackensack, Newark, Hamilton, and Trenton.

Legislative meetings were held with State Assemblyman Bramnick (District 21) and US Senator Menendez.

Provided public comment at a Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) meeting, spoke at press conference supporting regulation on prison phone calls, attended a national summit on mass incarceration.

Legal Advocacy Project (LAP) Forms

In 2014, after a $5,000 grant the Legal Advocacy Project (LAP) was formed to advocate within the New Jersey courts on issues of justice and equity and looking to move signature legislation through the NJ Legislature reflecting our UU values.

An initial action was the filing of a lawsuit, along with the ACLU and Americans for the Separation of Church and State, against the NJ Dept of Education and the State Treasurer. The suit stems from the proposed use of state bond money being awarded to religious institutions. Rev Hirshberg participated in a media session with reporters following the filing.

In 2015, LAP filed two amicus briefs concerning NJ termination of Medicaid benefits for legal immigrants without residency requirement and the NYC police surveillance of the Muslim community in NJ.

In 2017, an original bill supports confidentiality for women’s reproductive health care workers and clinicians.

Moving Onward

In 2015, UULMNJ issued a statement calling for UU congregations throughout New Jersey to work toward dismantling racism. Serving as co-convenors are Elias Ortega (Morristown) and Rohn Hein (Cherry Hill).

In the last few years, we have lobbied for the passage of the following legislation:

  • Opportunity To Compete
  • Bail Reform legislation
  • Proposed Bail Reform Constitutional Amendment
  • Parole reform legislation currently before the legislature
  • Eight stricter gun control laws
  • In-state tuition for undocumented college students
  • Fracking Waste Ban
  • Anti-poverty legislation
  • Earned paid sick days

Other recent accomplishments:

  • UULMNJ is first faith group to call for a reform of the drug laws and the taxation and regulation rather than criminalization of certain substances.
  • The group successfully advocated for the release of the Affordable Housing Trust funds and for the NJ minimum wage increase with cost of living index increases.
  • On the immigration front, we sent over 400 letters to the Secretary of Homeland Security concerning immigration detention conditions in NJ.
  • Promoted “Do Not Stand Idly By” program encouraging local municipalities to purchase police weapons from manufacturer who produce smart guns and promote high safety standards.
  • Launched Ending the New Jim Crow Task Force
  • Held a demonstration at Hobby Lobby to protest limited employee birth control options.
  • Helped to craft New Jersey’s environmental and sustainability position through Sen. Smith’s initiative and helped organize New Jersey UU’s participation in the Peoples Climate March in New York with approximately 300 NJ participants.

On October 14, 2017, UULMNJ announced  our new name!  Going forward, we are now UU FaithAction NJ and we proudly launched our new name and logo at the Fall Issues Conference held at the UU Congregation of Monmouth County.  

As UU FaithAction NJ

Since become UU FaithAction NJ, we have been involved in the passing of several bills, including:

 

Registration Open for *Free* Public Protest/Upstander Training Nov. 18

by Rev. Rob Gregson

Public Protest/Upstander *Free Training*

Have you ever given thought to how *best* to prepare for taking part in public protest?  Wondered what you could possibly do to help someone being harassed?  Ever considered taking part in an act of civil disobedience?

Knowledge = Power.  Come to find answers to these questions and more at our FREE two-part workshop on how to become a (better) social activist.

Date: Saturday, November 18th, 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Time: Part 1: 10 am–12 noon = Upstander Training

Part 2: 12:00 pm–2 pm = Protest and Civil Disobedience Training

 Working Lunch (Bring your own lunch & snack to share!)

Place:  Central Unitarian Church 156 Forest Avenue, Paramus, New Jersey 07652.  Parking is available on site; please consider carpooling to save space and Go Green!

Register: Registration required – Please indicate which training(s) you will be attending.  Space is limited to 60 participants per training so register now!

Click Here to Register

A two part training–come to both or choose the one that fits you best!  (You will indicate your choices on registration)

Part 1 10-12: How to go from being a “bystander” to an UPSTANDER!

What do you do if you see hate-based harassment?  Learn to better predict incidents *before* they happen; how to align with potential targets; de-escalation; safe escape, and much more.

Part 2: 12-2 (Working Lunch, see details above) Veteran activists and newly involved neighbors are invited to participate in an interactive training on how to be an effective and safe person of conscience in today’s political environment.  Topics include: Safety, safety, safety!; Rules of engagement; Finding the types of actions that are right for you; All the what-ifs; and yes, How to get arrested.  (Also, how NOT to get arrested!)

Hosted by UU FaithAction NJ, Central Unitarian Church in Paramus, Hudson Civic Action and American Friends Service Committee. Facilitated by Elena Waldman of Artemis Defense (www.artemisdefense.org) . Free will donations taken at the event.

Things Every UU Should Know About Reproductive Justice

by Rev. Rob Gregson

Things every UU should know about reproductive justice

Two Things Every UU Should Know About Reproductive Justice

1. “Reproductive justice” has a broad agenda, and is different than “reproductive rights”.

The understanding of reproductive justice has evolved over time, and there is no universally accepted definition. However, all definitions recognize that the need for access to resources goes far beyond abortion alone. These four principles are accepted by many as representative:

  1.  People have a right to have children.
  2. People have a right not to have children.
  3. People have a right to raise their children in safe and healthy environments.
  4. People have a right to health and self-determination regarding their bodies and sexuality, free from oppression and shame.

    Notably, reproductive justice is not simply a different phrase that is interchangeable with reproductive health or reproductive rights, and nor is it intended to replace these concepts. Instead, reproductive justice is a framework created by women of color that combines the fields of reproductive rights, social justice, and human rights. It is grounded in the particular experiences, values, priorities, and leadership of women of color.

    2. Reproductive justice has a different approach.

    It’s not enough to focus on reaching a set of end goals through any means possible. Instead, our approach must reflect the world we are trying to create. This includes:

    Constantly talking about the impact our personal identities (including race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, wealth, etc) have on our viewpoints and actions. In order to successfully change the culture, we must be open to growth and change ourselves.

    Centering the marginalized. Changing structures of power means that leadership must come from the groups most affected by the denial of access to rights and resources, including women and people of color, people struggling to make ends meet, and young people.

    Intersectionality. The work must be intersectional, which means engaging multiple identities and building coalitions rather than trying to keep people and issues confined in separate boxes. Changing structures of power requires that we view identities as linked and formulate solutions that are based on collaboration and solidarity.

    For people who support reproductive justice and are not already familiar with the framework, it is sometimes challenging but always important to seek relationships of accountability and leadership with women of color and organizations they lead. This is critical because it helps to avoid misappropriation, where people are claiming to do reproductive justice work without knowing what it means and without being accountable to the experiences and leadership of women of color.

The Las Vegas Massacre of Oct. 1, 2017

by Rev. Rob Gregson

Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Responds to

the Oct. 1, 2017 Las Vegas Massacre

On 10/1/17, 58 people were killed and around 500 injured in the largest mass shooting in modern American history.  This number was made possible with the aid of a bump stock device which effectively converts a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic one, similar to a machine gun.  A former Iraq Vet concert goer later told NPR it was like the warfare he’d experienced in Iraq.

There have been multiple mass shootings since 26 children and educators were fatally shot at Sandy Hook Elementary in December 0f 2012.  To date, Congress has failed to demonstrate the moral courage to enact a single piece of meaningful legislation to decrease gun violence in the US. The gun lobby spends tens of millions to support candidates who comply with their dictates. Sadly, Congress members have placed their own re-election above the public safety of their constituents.  As American citizens, we have the power of our voices and votes to compel our elected representatives to act on our behalf.  As Unitarians, we have a moral imperative to live our principles.  As such, we need to support the inherent worth of every person and work towards a world that is safe, just and peaceful.

In 1991, NJ passed an Assault Weapons Ban into law.  In 1994, Congress took NJ’s example and passed a National Ban on Assault Weapons.  In 2004, Congress, under George W. Bush, allowed this law, which had a sunset clause, to expire. Assault weapons are designed for use in battle and have no place on our streets. It is time to reinstate the National Assault Weapons Ban.

Secondly, we need universal background checks.  Ninety percent of Americans support this. Universal background checks would help us keep guns out of the hands of individuals who are dangerous to themselves or others. This includes those convicted of domestic abuse, felons and the seriously mentally unstable.  It would stem the rate of gun fatalities by suicide, which represents more than 60% of the annual gun deaths.

With crisis comes opportunity.  Make your voice heard by contacting your federal representatives in the House and Senate. Urge your representatives to reinstate the National Assault Weapons Ban and Universal Background Checks today.

Those interested in learning more can contact Jeannine Coyne, the UULM Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair at jeanninemcoyne@outlook.com.

Jeannine M Coyne

Chair, UULM of NJ  Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

Vigils across NJ

by Rev. Rob Gregson

Many UU congregations are hosting vigils to honor the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, to advocate for stricter gun laws and to call into question an ongoing culture of violence in the United States.

Cherry Hill UUs held one earlier this week, and Montclair and Beacon (Summit) UUs will be holding their own vigils tonight and Friday.  I hope UULMNJ supporters will turn out and continue to work through our Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to help break this vicious cycle of violence.

UULMNJ Fall Issues Conference: Register Today!

by Rev. Rob Gregson

Registration is now OPEN for the Oct. 14 Fall Issues Conference–only 3 weeks away!

REGISTER NOW

The Legislative Ministry’s Fall Issues Conference takes place on Saturday Oct. 14 from 12 noon until 6 p.m.  Hosted this year by our member congregation, the UU Congregation of Monmouth County in Lincroft www.uucmc.org, the conference features a keynote speaker, issues-related break out groups and a working lunch.  The Lincroft congregation is active in antiracism and immigration justice work and we are very pleased to partner together in support of a more just and hopeful New Jersey.

For those new to UULMNJ, the Fall Issues Conference is the premier opportunity for UUs from across the Garden State to learn, discuss, and become involved in the most pressing social justice concerns facing our state.  It is the time each year when our six volunteer Task Forces (listed below) decide on their advocacy, education and legislative priorities for the coming year.  We work on a collaborative model, so make sure to come help shape the UULMNJ agenda and the outcome of long-term policy and culture change in our home state.

We are very pleased to welcome our 2017 keynote speaker, Johanna Calle.  Johanna is Program Director of our partner organization, the NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice, one of the most effective and vocal immigrant rights groups active in the state today www.njimmigrantjustice.org.

Ms. Calle will be joined by Rita Dentino, Executive Director of the Monmouth County immigrant rights organization, Casa Freehold www.casafreehold.org and a partner with the UU Congregation of Monmouth County.  Johanna and Rita will bring us up to date on the increasingly punitive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions and deportations and what we can do to mitigate harm and call out for justice on the public stage. Johanna and Rita expect to be joined by a NJ undocumented resident or family member willing to speak out about current conditions in our state.

Ted Fetter, long time Immigration Reform Task Force chair, will give an update on our State Sanctuary Challenge initiative–our 6 month-long effort to involve all 21 UULMNJ member congregations in advocating for sensible and human immigration reform locally, and against the mass criminalization of undocumented people.

Additional speakers during the break-out groups include Lena Smith from Food and Water Watch, Dr. Dione Johnson, CEO of JARC: Juvenile and Adult Re-Entry Connections, and Andrea Long, long-time reproductive rights activist and clinic escort.

As if that were not enough, there will be six break out groups during the working lunch to cover the issues we advocate for in Trenton and our member congregations: Environmental, Criminal, Reproductive, Economic and Immigrant Justice and Gun Violence Prevention.

Come also for the official launch of the NEW NAME, mission and vision statements, and special presentation of the logo and website design. Thanks to a generous donation, we are retooling to better serve justice-making, congregational liveliness, and “soul growth” in 2018 and beyond.

Finally, we sure to add your name and concerns/hopes/dreams to an interactive art installation, “Wall of Anger/Wall of Hope” over the course of the conference.

Questions/concerns?  Please email the UULMNJ office at admin@uulmnj.org.  We will make every effort to accommodate accessibility/special needs but it is very, very helpful to know in advance, so please do reach out.

Be sure to join us, 12 to 6 p.m. for a day devoted to justice-making and spirit-reviving.  See you there!

REGISTER NOW

We will make every effort to accommodate accessibility/special needs but it is very, very helpful to know in advance, so please do reach out.

Be sure to join us, 12 to 6 p.m. for a day devoted to justice-making and spirit-reviving.  See you there!

Article: “Welcome To The Anti-Racism Movement — Here’s What You’ve Missed”

by Rev. Rob Gregson

Welcome To The Anti-Racism Movement — Here’s What You’ve Missed

By Ijeoma Oluo 

Ed. remarks: This isn’t an easy article but it is a very smart one, and hits home for many but perhaps especially for those among us who recognize ourselves as “well meaning white liberals” (or “well meaning white conservatives/independents” though you are not mentioned very much in this article) who are beginning to see with greater clarity the pervasiveness of racism in American culture.  Spoiler alert: there is bad language here, and a perspective some may (will) find troubling. The editor’s take is that the UULMNJ was never meant to be another institution that comforts the comfortable and afflicts the afflicted.  Or as one writer has said, “It’s not unity we are fighting for, but freedom.”  Worth reading. — Rev. Rob Gregson

https://theestablishment.co/welcome-to-the-anti-racism-movement-heres-what-you-ve-missed-711089cb7d34

Sanctuary/Fair and Welcoming Congregations: Rapid Response Teams

by Rev. Rob Gregson

How to Form a Rapid Response Team in Your Congregation

From An interview with Pedro Sosa, director of AFSC’s Project Voice Immigrant Rights Program in Oregon and Washington state
With thanks to Clara Haignere, editor
May 18th, 2017

https://www.afsc.org/blogs/news-and-commentary/responding-to-immigration-enforcement-under-trump

Each team is made up of five smaller teams:

  • The legal team works with lawyers and does intake with people who are victims of raids. They are trained as legal observers, and they document any violations of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
  • The service team includes schools, social service agencies, faith groups, and others who help victims after raids. They provide food, accompany families to courts, help find care for the children if their parent or guardian is taken.
  • The media team alerts the news media when a raid happens, organizes press conferences, and distributes information about the rapid response team in the community.
  • The government team includes people who have connections with city officials or the governor or representatives. They lift up the stories of people affected to advocate for policies to prevent raids.
  • The political action team mobilizes people if we need to plan a march or rally to pressure elected officials.

24-hour Hotline with 15 volunteers taking turns answering the phone calls – two at a time. The calls are forwarded to their cell phones. If the first person can’t get to the call, the call goes to the backup person.

The idea is to record ICE activity in the community, and then we can mobilize the rapid response team if needed. Sometimes we get a call, and somebody needs help; other times, it’s just a rumor of ICE activity being reported.

We can get up to 15 calls a day. We spend a lot of time verifying rumors about ICE activities—we don’t want to put out bad information.

Q: Can you give us an example of how the rapid response team has successfully handled a raid?

A: In February, I got a call from Woodburn. The caller reported that they saw la migra (ICE) on the highway, and I called someone to verify that was true. I drove out to the scene and saw two vans had been stopped by ICE—workers who were [headed to pick ornamental shrubs in a nearby forest]. Nineteen workers were detained, and eight were arrested and sent to Tacoma detention facility.

We mobilized our rapid response team in Salem, which we had just developed a couple of months earlier. Within hours, we had a group of lawyers—including the ACLU and professors from Lewis and Clark University—come to talk with workers after they were released to document what happened and provide support. Most of the workers were released, although two were held, and lawyers began to help them and their families with their cases. We also alerted the media,  and the story was covered on local TV and in newspapers.

We originally developed the rapid response team model in 2006. Today, we have more technology. We use the SMS Seal app for messaging. We’re also in conversation with the ACLU, which has a phone app that lets you record and upload videos that get automatically sent to their system, just in case your phone is taken away from you.