A Statement from the NJ Interfaith Coalition - May 30, 2020
NJ Interfaith Coalition Strongly Condemns the Murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police
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, machaudry@gmail.com
Dr. Alex Kharazi, Masjid-e-Ali, 732-735-3371, alexk08873@yahoo.com
Ayaz Aslam, NJ Muslim Voice for Progress, NJMCoalition@gmail.com, https://www.njmvp.org/
Rabbi Marc Kline, Monmouth ReformTemple,732-575-2088, rabbimarc@monmouthreformtemple.org
Joe Ritacco, Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought, 732-804-2919, jritacco@comcast.net
Imam Wahy-ud Deen Shareef, Masjid Waarithuddeen, 973-418-6898, wdeenshareef@gmail.com
Jimmy Small Salam, 973-580-4798, Muslim League of Voters, servoa@comcast.net
Abu Bakr, Al Falah Center, 973-568-0627, axb2469@yahoo.com
Imam Mustafa Amin, Masjid Ibrahim, Newark, melamin43@aol.com
Nadeem "Nick" Saleem, American Muslims for Democracy, 732-604-1089, nicksuwg@gmail.com
Arif Patel, Islamic Society of Central Jersey, arif.patel@iscj.org
Muhammad Ali Hashmi, Muslim Center of Middlesex County, info@mcmcnj.org
Zak Maniya and Sajid Syed, Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, zakmaniyamd@gmail.com
AbdulRehman Chaudary, Muslim Center of Somerset County, abdulrehman.chaudary@mcscmasjid.org
Juned Tai, Muslim Community of New Jersey, president@mcnjonline.com
Dr. Attia Sweillam, Islamic Society of Essex County, (732) 735-3177
Faheem Soherwardy, Islamic Center of East Brunswick, President@icebnj.org
Ken khader Assab, Arab American Civic Org, Kaacivico@aol.com,
Rev. David Jahnke, Fanwood Presbyterian Church, Fanwood, dpjahnke@gmail.com,
Sara Lilja, Lutheran Engaging in Advocacy Ministry NJ, slilja@leamnj.org,
Haydar Sungkar, Islamic Center of Passaic County, president@icpcnj.org,
Robert Scheinberg, United Synagogue of Hoboken, rabbi@hobokensynagogue.org,
Nazimool Saheb, Masjid Al-Wali, Director@masjidalwali.org,
Imam Qareeb A. Bashir, Islamic Center of Ewing, qbashir@aol.com
Alaa Ahmed, Islamic Center of South River, alaa.ahmed162162@gmail.com
Imam Sulaiman Yusufi, Islamic Circle Of Mercer County, Imam@icmcmasjid.org
Rabbi Howard Tilman, Congregation Beth Israel, rabbihowardtilman@gmail.com
Sami Catovic, New Brunswick Islamic Center (NBIC), Scatovic@nbic.org
Tasneem Sultan, La Convivencia, tasneemqsultan@gmail.com
Ken khader Assab, Arab American Civic Org, Kaacivico@aol.com
Imam Adeyinka Mendes, Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, imam.mendes@themuslimcenter.org
Angela Rodriquez Moore, Fountain Baptist Church, Summit, armoore0310@hotmail.com,
Betty Ali, Jewish Christian Muslim Dialogue of Southern New Jersey Cherry Hill, bettyali3@gmail.com,
Ramon Collazo, Santa Isabel Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, pastorsantaisabel@yahoo.com,
Mufti Niaz Hannan/Abdul Rasheed, Islamic Center of South Jersey, Palmyra, arasheed40@gmail.com,
Amina Khan, Islamic Chaplaincy Student at Hartford Seminary, Aa_20009@yahoo.com,
Rev. Susan Joseph Rack, Christ Presbyterian Church, Martinsville, revsjoseph@optonline.net,
Rev. Michael Granzen, Ph.D., Second Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, NJ, mgranzen@aol.com,
David Bowman, Presbyterian Clergy, New Egypt, Dfbsbv@gmail.com
Mohammed Jawad, Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Mohammed.Jawad@iamc.com
Rabbi Esther Reed, Rutgers Hillel, rabbireed@rutgershillel.org
Rev. Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle, Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church, Liberty Corner NJ, barnabas@libertycorner.org
Cameron Overbey, Cranford United Methodist Church, pastorcam@cranfordumc.com
Rev. Eugene P. Squeo, Hudson County Brotherhood Sisterhood Association, hudsoncountyinterfaith@aol.com
Lillian Needham, Faith in New Jersey, Camden County, lilneedham75@gmail.com
Rabbi Bronwen Mullin, Congregation Bnai Jacob, Jersey City, rabbibnaijacob@gmail.com
Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz, Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston, fdantowitz@tbanj.org
Rev. Ron Thompson, Townley Presbyterian Church, Union, novnor@outlook.com
Wail Rasheed, Islamic Center of Union county, Icuc@icucnj.com
David Vaisberg, Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston, rabbi.david.z.vaisberg@gmail.com
Elaine Thomas, All Saints Episcopal Parish, Hoboken, ethomas@allsaintshooken.com
Leana Moritt, Temple Beth-El, Jersey City, Rabbimoritt@betheljc.org
Rev. Dr. LL DuBreuil, New Jersey Association of the United Church of Christ, Glen Ridge, RevLL@aol.com
Carolyn Daurio, Member of parish community of St Helen, Westfield, cdaurio@verizon.net
Ted Conley, Chief of Police, Scotch Plains Police Department, t.conley@scotchplainspd.org
Susan Antman, Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey