For Immediate Release – July 10, 2016
On behalf of a broad multi-faith coalition of more than 100 organizations throughout New Jersey, we would like to express our sorrow at the most recent tragic deaths of two African-American victims of police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota and the targeted killings of five police officers in Dallas.
We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of all of these victims and ask God to give them strength, patience, comfort and hope through this difficult time. We strongly affirm that all lives, regardless of background, are sacred and must be valued.
We reiterate the importance of recognizing the racial inequities of our law enforcement and judicial system as it relates to African-American and other minority communities. We urge our political leaders to begin the important work of addressing these injustices so that every person is treated equally under the law. We ask this so that we can make progress toward a “more perfect union” that our founders sought. And we remind everyone of our nation’s motto: E Pluribus Unum – Out of Many, One.
With respect to the targeted attack against our police officers, we raise our collective voice to remind all that the overwhelming majority of officers protect and serve our communities with distinction. They are our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, friends, sports coaches, mentors to countless young people and pillars in our community. There is absolutely no justification for such attacks against these brave men and women.
At the same time, we request law enforcement agencies to improve the training of their personnel so as to avoid targeting based on race. We also urge local police departments and faith communities across our nation to hold meetings to strengthen ties between local police departments and their communities and issue a common call for the peaceful resolution of all conflicts and restraint regarding the use of force.
For our part, we look forward to creating opportunities to educate, partner, and build on shared values and partnerships with law enforcement, faith groups, and other communities.
We encourage all mosques, churches, synagogues and other faith-based organizations to join us in this statement and encourage Imams, Priests and Rabbis to address this issue in their sermons. We also urge those who wish to join protests to do so peacefully, committing themselves to non-violence.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to any of the following contacts.
Muslim
Dr. M. Ali Chaudry, Islamic Society of Basking Ridge 908-672-1798 machaudry@gmail.com
Asghar (Alex) Kharazi, Masjid-e-Ali 732-735-3371 alexk08873@yahoo.com
Jimmy Small (Salaam), Muslim League of Voters of NJ 973-580-4798 servoa@comcast.net
James Sues, CAIR-NJ 908.267.3119 jsues@cair.com
Mahmood Alam, American Muslims for Democracy 732-874-3705 mahmood786@gmail.com
Salaheddin Mustafa, Islamic Center of Passaic County 973-818-0313 Mustodean2002@yahoo.com
Sameerah Diaab, Muslim League of Voters of NJ 908-531-9141 Sameerahdiaab@yahoo.com
Sami Elmansoury, Muslim Public Affairs Council 201-953-3275 Sami.elmansoury@gmail.com
Farhat Biviji, Jewish Catholic Muslim Dialogue of So. NJ, 856-428-5867, bvg786110@comcast.net
Zahida Rachman, Jewish Catholic Muslim Dialogue of So. NJ, 856-784-2738, zahidasrachman@gmail.com
Jewish
Reb Deb Smith, Rabbi Or Ha Lev Jewish Renewal Community, (908) 303-8374 hineni77@gmail.com
Rabbi Eli Garfinkel, Temple Beth El, 908-616-6995 rabbigarfinkel1@me.com
Alan Respler. Jewish Catholic Muslim Dialogue of So. NJ, 856-424-4944, JCMFacilitator@gmail.com
Henry Maurer, Catholic Jewish Commission, 856-667-7285, henry.maurer9@gmail.com
David Snyder, Jewish Community Relations Council of So. NJ, 856-673-2524, dsnyder@jfedsnj.org
Christian
Sharon Culley, Somerset Presbyterian Church, revsec@aol.com
David Jahnke, Fanwood Presbyterian Church, dpjahnke@gmail.com
Patricia Sandrow, Jewish Catholic Muslim Dialogue of So. NJ, 856-424-6059, psandrow@earthlink.net
Fr. Joseph Wallace, Catholic Jewish Commission, 609-522-2709, jdaw127@comcast.net
Interfaith advocates
Joe Ritacco, jritacco@comcast.net, 732-739-5282, the Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought, Monmouth County
List of Faith and Civic Organizations Supporting the Statement
Ahlul-Bayt Student Association
Al Hoda Islamic Center – Jersey City
Al Tawheed Islamic Center – Jersey City
All Saints’ Episcopal Church
American Arab Civic Org
American Coalition for Good Government
American Muslim Alliance – NJ
American Muslim Council PAC
American Muslim Union
American Muslims for Democracy
American Muslims for Hunger Relief
American Muslims for Palestine
Anjumane Nawjawanane Ali Akber
Bayonne Islamic Center
Bayonne Muslims
Baytul-Iman Academy
Bergen County Islamic Center
Blessed and Highly Favored, Inc
CAIR – NJ
Catholic-Jewish Commission of So. NJ
Congregation Or Ha Lev
Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals
Cranford Alliance Church
Dar ul Islam
Elizabeth Islamic Center – Midland Park
EMERGE – USA
Faith United Church of Christ
Fanwood Presbyterian Church
Franklin Reporter & Advocate
Green Muslims of New Jersey (GMNJ)
HAC
Helping Hand for Relief and Development
Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Ransom Writers & Speakers
Hudson County Brotherhood/Sisterhood Association
Hudson County Moslim Associations
Inspiring American Muslim Youth
Institute of Islamic Studies
Interfaith Clergy Association of the Great South Brunswick Area
Islamic Center of East Brunswick
Islamic Center of Jersey City
Islamic Center of Morris County
Islamic Center of Old Bridge
Islamic Center of Passaic County
Islamic Center of South River
Islamic Center of Union County
Islamic Circle of Mercer Country
Islamic Circle of North America
Islamic Council of Greater Trenton
Islamic Council of Hudson County
Islamic Council on Scouting of North America
Islamic Cultural Center
Islamic Relief USA
Islamic Society of Basking Ridge
Islamic Society of Central Jersey
Islamic Society of Essex County
Jewish Catholic Muslim Dialogue of Southern New Jersey
Madinah Cultural Center -Kearny
Majilus Ashura of Essex and Union County
MAROC
MAS
Masjid Al Wali
Masjid Ibrahim – Newark
Masjid Muhammad Atlantic City Inc.
Masjid Waarith ud Deen, Irvington
Masjid-e-Ali
Masjidullah Inc. Plainfield
Mehfile Shahe Khorasan
Mehfile Shahe Khorasan / Sultan Karamali
Message of peace Inc/ Patan-e- Aman
Mohammadia English Program
Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought
Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought
Muslim American Society
Muslim Center of Middlesex County
Muslim Community Center of Union County
Muslim Community of New Jersey
Muslim League of Voters of NJ
Muslim Public Affairs Council
MUSLIM Society of Ridgewood
Muslim Students Association of NJIT
Muslims4peace.org
New Africa Educational Inst.
New Africa Excellence Enterprise LLC
New Brunswick Islamic Center
New Jersey Muslim Lawyer’s Association
New Jersey Muslim Voter Project
NJ Sisterhood
NJ State Association of Jewish Federations
North Hudson Islamic Educational Center
Palestinian American Community Center
Plainfield Center for Islamic Enlightenment
Rutgers MSA
Sadaqa House Inc.
Shia American Relationship Council (SARC)
Shia Assn Of North America, Baitul Qaem
Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom
SMILE
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
standwithdignity.org
Sultan Karamali
Swasia Charity Foundation
Temple B’nai Abraham
Temple Sha’arey Shalom
Temple Sha’arey Shalom
The Building Blocks of NJ
The Citizens Foundation
The Indigo GLOW Foundation
The Islamic Center of Jersey City
The Islamic Council of Hudson County
The Muslim Network
The New Guidance Center
Townley Presbyterian Church
Tri State Imams Council
Turkish Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Universal Muslim Association of America
World Islamic Committee on Scouting
Zanabia New Jersey
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
