“Abolish Life Imprisonment” Campaign Announcement

By Tom Moran, Criminal Justice Reform Task Force Chair


Our coalition partner—Abolish Life Imprisonment (an initiative of Salvation and Social Justice)—is planning a robust publicity campaign starting soon.  The campaign will endeavor to advance legislation through the lame-duck session of the New Jersey legislature.  Although our bill has not yet been finalized and introduced, we do have a draft bill based on the March 2023 Report of the New Jersey Criminal Sentencing & Disposition Commission.

75,000+ March to End Fossil Fuels

Unitarian Universalists joined protestors representing a broad coalition of climate activists and communities of faith in the March to End Fossil Fuels on Sunday, September 17th, 2023.

In anticipation of to the September 20th “UN Climate Ambition Summit” in New York, people took to the streets to cry out for a fossil-free future.  Marchers called on President Biden—leader of the world’s largest producer of oil and gas—to stop oil and gas projects, phase down drilling, and declare a climate emergency.  Add your voice—sign the March to End Fossil Fuels petition.

Gala Digital Ad Journal

After careful deliberation and out of an abundance of caution, the Gala Planning Committee made the difficult decision last Friday to cancel the “Justice for All” Gala scheduled for September 9th, 2023 at the UU Congregation of Princeton.  For more information on the cancellation, read the message from our Gala Planning Committee.

The Gala Planning Committee is deliberating a path forward, including the possibility of rescheduling the “Justice For All” Gala for a future date.  In the meantime, we are pleased to share with you our “Justice For All” Gala Digital Ad Journal!

“LGBTQ+ Students: We’re Here For You” | Rally at the State Board of Ed. Meeting

“LGBTQ+ Students and School Staff: WE’RE HERE FOR YOU” a wall of signs read.

Supporters of equity and inclusion showed up for the NJ State Board of Education meeting in Trenton on Wednesday, September 6th.

The NJ State Board of Ed. recently voted to adopt gender-inclusive language into our state’s education code, as well as to re-authorize existing Equity in Education standards.  As expected, protesters were present at the Board of Ed. meeting, carrying messages of intolerance.

Spotlight on Amy Torres

Amy Torres (they/she) serves as the Executive Director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ). In this position, they lead member organizations and staff to direct policy and organizational priorities. Prior to NJAIJ, Torres served for over seven years in immigrants’ rights and policy advocacy in New York City, with a focus on Asian American and Pacific Islander empowerment.

Immigration Justice Advocates “Watched the Court” on Monday; Federal Judge to Issue Ruling This Month

Source: NJAIJ


 

Over 50 advocates from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania rallied yesterday in front of the Clarkson S. Fisher Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Trenton to defend A5207, a state law that prevents Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from renewing their contract with private prison corporation CoreCivic at the Elizabeth Detention Center (EDC).