NJ Interfaith Coalition Strongly Condemns the Murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police
For Immediate Release – May 30, 2020
While the struggle of African-Americans for equality has continued for centuries, the unjust and inhumane murder of George Floyd underscores the urgency to address the deeply rooted racism that is still endemic in American society, especially towards people of color and, in particular, towards African-Americans.
Members of the NJ Interfaith Coalition (NJIFC), comprised of faith organizations throughout New Jersey, strongly condemn the unconscionable actions of Minneapolis police officers during their arrest of George Floyd resulting in the death.
We send our deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd. In this time of grief, we stand with our brothers and sisters in the African-American community who have suffered the most from systemic racism at the hands of police.
We urge all faith and civic leaders to unite and speak out against racism and bigotry. We urge all law enforcement agencies to implement additional training to eliminate bias amongst their ranks against minorities and to commit to rout out racism against black and brown communities, and against people of all faiths and orientations.
We invite all mosques, churches, synagogues, temples and other faith-based organizations to join us to work together for a world free of racism, hate and bigotry by supporting the following Pledge to Stand Up for the Other:
While interacting with members of my own faith, or ethnic, or gender community, or with others, if I hear hateful comments from anyone about members of any other community, I pledge to stand up for the other and speak up to challenge bigotry in any form.
The list of organizations supporting this statement is available upon request and can be accessed at www.NJIFC.org. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to any of the following contacts.
From the NJIFC Team & Friends
Dr. M. Ali Chaudry, Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, 908-672-1798, [email protected]
Dr. Alex Kharazi, Masjid-e-Ali, 732-735-3371, [email protected]
Ayaz Aslam, NJ Muslim Voice for Progress, [email protected], https://www.njmvp.org/
Rabbi Marc Kline, Monmouth ReformTemple,732-575-2088, [email protected]
Joe Ritacco, Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought, 732-804-2919, [email protected]
Imam Wahy-ud Deen Shareef, Masjid Waarithuddeen, 973-418-6898, [email protected]
Jimmy Small Salam, 973-580-4798, Muslim League of Voters, [email protected]
Abu Bakr, Al Falah Center, 973-568-0627, [email protected]
Imam Mustafa Amin, Masjid Ibrahim, Newark, [email protected]
Nadeem "Nick" Saleem, American Muslims for Democracy, 732-604-1089, [email protected]
Arif Patel, Islamic Society of Central Jersey, [email protected]
Muhammad Ali Hashmi, Muslim Center of Middlesex County, [email protected]
Zak Maniya and Sajid Syed, Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, [email protected]
AbdulRehman Chaudary, Muslim Center of Somerset County, [email protected]
Juned Tai, Muslim Community of New Jersey, [email protected]
Dr. Attia Sweillam, Islamic Society of Essex County, (732) 735-3177
Faheem Soherwardy, Islamic Center of East Brunswick, [email protected]
Ken khader Assab, Arab American Civic Org, [email protected],
Rev. David Jahnke, Fanwood Presbyterian Church, Fanwood, [email protected],
Sara Lilja, Lutheran Engaging in Advocacy Ministry NJ, [email protected],
Haydar Sungkar, Islamic Center of Passaic County, [email protected],
Robert Scheinberg, United Synagogue of Hoboken, [email protected],
Nazimool Saheb, Masjid Al-Wali, [email protected],
Imam Qareeb A. Bashir, Islamic Center of Ewing, [email protected]
Alaa Ahmed, Islamic Center of South River, [email protected]
Imam Sulaiman Yusufi, Islamic Circle Of Mercer County, [email protected]
Rabbi Howard Tilman, Congregation Beth Israel, [email protected]
Sami Catovic, New Brunswick Islamic Center (NBIC), [email protected]
Tasneem Sultan, La Convivencia, [email protected]
Ken khader Assab, Arab American Civic Org, [email protected]
Imam Adeyinka Mendes, Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, [email protected]
Angela Rodriquez Moore, Fountain Baptist Church, Summit, [email protected],
Betty Ali, Jewish Christian Muslim Dialogue of Southern New Jersey Cherry Hill, [email protected],
Ramon Collazo, Santa Isabel Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, [email protected],
Mufti Niaz Hannan/Abdul Rasheed, Islamic Center of South Jersey, Palmyra, [email protected],
Amina Khan, Islamic Chaplaincy Student at Hartford Seminary, [email protected],
Rev. Susan Joseph Rack, Christ Presbyterian Church, Martinsville, [email protected],
Rev. Michael Granzen, Ph.D., Second Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, NJ, [email protected],
David Bowman, Presbyterian Clergy, New Egypt, [email protected]
Mohammed Jawad, Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), [email protected]
Rabbi Esther Reed, Rutgers Hillel, [email protected]
Rev. Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle, Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church, Liberty Corner NJ, [email protected]
Cameron Overbey, Cranford United Methodist Church, [email protected]
Rev. Eugene P. Squeo, Hudson County Brotherhood Sisterhood Association, [email protected]
Lillian Needham, Faith in New Jersey, Camden County, [email protected]
Rabbi Bronwen Mullin, Congregation Bnai Jacob, Jersey City, [email protected]
Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz, Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston, [email protected]
Rev. Ron Thompson, Townley Presbyterian Church, Union, [email protected]
Wail Rasheed, Islamic Center of Union county, [email protected]
David Vaisberg, Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston, [email protected]
Elaine Thomas, All Saints Episcopal Parish, Hoboken, [email protected]
Rabbi Leana Moritt, Temple Beth-El, Jersey City, [email protected]
Rev. Dr. LL DuBreuil, New Jersey Association of the United Church of Christ, Glen Ridge, [email protected]
Carolyn Daurio, Member of parish community of St Helen, Westfield, [email protected]
Ted Conley, Chief of Police, Scotch Plains Police Department, [email protected]
Karen Tibbals, Rahway-Plainfield Religous Society of Friends, [email protected]
Rabbi Arnold Gluck, Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough, [email protected]
Ahmed Shedeed, Islamic Center Of Jersey City, [email protected],
Rev J. David Knecht DMIN, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Springfield, [email protected]
Dan Rozett, Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ, South River, [email protected]
Join NJIFC
Co-sign the above letter and begin working towards allyship
For Immediate Release – May 30, 2020
While the struggle of African-Americans for equality has continued for centuries, the unjust and inhumane murder of George Floyd underscores the urgency to address the deeply rooted racism that is still endemic in American society, especially towards people of color and, in particular, towards African-Americans.
Members of the NJ Interfaith Coalition (NJIFC), comprised of faith organizations throughout New Jersey, strongly condemn the unconscionable actions of Minneapolis police officers during their arrest of George Floyd resulting in the death.
We send our deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd. In this time of grief, we stand with our brothers and sisters in the African-American community who have suffered the most from systemic racism at the hands of police.
We urge all faith and civic leaders to unite and speak out against racism and bigotry. We urge all law enforcement agencies to implement additional training to eliminate bias amongst their ranks against minorities and to commit to rout out racism against black and brown communities, and against people of all faiths and orientations.
We invite all mosques, churches, synagogues, temples and other faith-based organizations to join us to work together for a world free of racism, hate and bigotry by supporting the following Pledge to Stand Up for the Other:
While interacting with members of my own faith, or ethnic, or gender community, or with others, if I hear hateful comments from anyone about members of any other community, I pledge to stand up for the other and speak up to challenge bigotry in any form.
The list of organizations supporting this statement is available upon request and can be accessed at www.NJIFC.org. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to any of the following contacts.
From the NJIFC Team & Friends
Dr. M. Ali Chaudry, Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, 908-672-1798, [email protected]
Dr. Alex Kharazi, Masjid-e-Ali, 732-735-3371, [email protected]
Ayaz Aslam, NJ Muslim Voice for Progress, [email protected], https://www.njmvp.org/
Rabbi Marc Kline, Monmouth ReformTemple,732-575-2088, [email protected]
Joe Ritacco, Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought, 732-804-2919, [email protected]
Imam Wahy-ud Deen Shareef, Masjid Waarithuddeen, 973-418-6898, [email protected]
Jimmy Small Salam, 973-580-4798, Muslim League of Voters, [email protected]
Abu Bakr, Al Falah Center, 973-568-0627, [email protected]
Imam Mustafa Amin, Masjid Ibrahim, Newark, [email protected]
Nadeem "Nick" Saleem, American Muslims for Democracy, 732-604-1089, [email protected]
Arif Patel, Islamic Society of Central Jersey, [email protected]
Muhammad Ali Hashmi, Muslim Center of Middlesex County, [email protected]
Zak Maniya and Sajid Syed, Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, [email protected]
AbdulRehman Chaudary, Muslim Center of Somerset County, [email protected]
Juned Tai, Muslim Community of New Jersey, [email protected]
Dr. Attia Sweillam, Islamic Society of Essex County, (732) 735-3177
Faheem Soherwardy, Islamic Center of East Brunswick, [email protected]
Ken khader Assab, Arab American Civic Org, [email protected],
Rev. David Jahnke, Fanwood Presbyterian Church, Fanwood, [email protected],
Sara Lilja, Lutheran Engaging in Advocacy Ministry NJ, [email protected],
Haydar Sungkar, Islamic Center of Passaic County, [email protected],
Robert Scheinberg, United Synagogue of Hoboken, [email protected],
Nazimool Saheb, Masjid Al-Wali, [email protected],
Imam Qareeb A. Bashir, Islamic Center of Ewing, [email protected]
Alaa Ahmed, Islamic Center of South River, [email protected]
Imam Sulaiman Yusufi, Islamic Circle Of Mercer County, [email protected]
Rabbi Howard Tilman, Congregation Beth Israel, [email protected]
Sami Catovic, New Brunswick Islamic Center (NBIC), [email protected]
Tasneem Sultan, La Convivencia, [email protected]
Ken khader Assab, Arab American Civic Org, [email protected]
Imam Adeyinka Mendes, Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, [email protected]
Angela Rodriquez Moore, Fountain Baptist Church, Summit, [email protected],
Betty Ali, Jewish Christian Muslim Dialogue of Southern New Jersey Cherry Hill, [email protected],
Ramon Collazo, Santa Isabel Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, [email protected],
Mufti Niaz Hannan/Abdul Rasheed, Islamic Center of South Jersey, Palmyra, [email protected],
Amina Khan, Islamic Chaplaincy Student at Hartford Seminary, [email protected],
Rev. Susan Joseph Rack, Christ Presbyterian Church, Martinsville, [email protected],
Rev. Michael Granzen, Ph.D., Second Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, NJ, [email protected],
David Bowman, Presbyterian Clergy, New Egypt, [email protected]
Mohammed Jawad, Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), [email protected]
Rabbi Esther Reed, Rutgers Hillel, [email protected]
Rev. Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle, Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church, Liberty Corner NJ, [email protected]
Cameron Overbey, Cranford United Methodist Church, [email protected]
Rev. Eugene P. Squeo, Hudson County Brotherhood Sisterhood Association, [email protected]
Lillian Needham, Faith in New Jersey, Camden County, [email protected]
Rabbi Bronwen Mullin, Congregation Bnai Jacob, Jersey City, [email protected]
Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz, Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston, [email protected]
Rev. Ron Thompson, Townley Presbyterian Church, Union, [email protected]
Wail Rasheed, Islamic Center of Union county, [email protected]
David Vaisberg, Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston, [email protected]
Elaine Thomas, All Saints Episcopal Parish, Hoboken, [email protected]
Rabbi Leana Moritt, Temple Beth-El, Jersey City, [email protected]
Rev. Dr. LL DuBreuil, New Jersey Association of the United Church of Christ, Glen Ridge, [email protected]
Carolyn Daurio, Member of parish community of St Helen, Westfield, [email protected]
Ted Conley, Chief of Police, Scotch Plains Police Department, [email protected]
Karen Tibbals, Rahway-Plainfield Religous Society of Friends, [email protected]
Rabbi Arnold Gluck, Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough, [email protected]
Ahmed Shedeed, Islamic Center Of Jersey City, [email protected],
Rev J. David Knecht DMIN, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Springfield, [email protected]
Dan Rozett, Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ, South River, [email protected]
Join NJIFC
Co-sign the above letter and begin working towards allyship