4 Arrested Essex County Clergy Still Defending Immigrant Families
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Four religious leaders from Montclair and Livingston who were arrested during a protest at the office of U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance in February continue to press for immigrant rights. Now, in addition to a “clean Dream Act,” they’re also blasting the Trump Administration’s controversial stance on separating immigrant families.
The Montclair and Livingston clergy members joined two other arrestees for a press conference and impromptu rally on Tuesday after a judge postponed their third court hearing. The six community leaders were charged with civil disobedience after they refused to leave Lance’s office in Westfield during a sit-in on Feb. 5.
The February protest held at Lance’s office called on the congressman to vote for passage of a “clean Dream Act,” which would extend a pathway to citizenship for immigrant youth without criminalizing immigrant families or militarizing the border.
Lance – a Republican who has agreed with Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program – represents the state’s 7th congressional district, covering all of Hunterdon County and parts of Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union and Warren counties.
However, Lance also said that he plans to cosponsor legislation that would “provide a workable, permanent legislative solution for those individuals who entered our country unlawfully as children with their undocumented parents.” He also plans to work closely with his colleagues and the administration” to pass meaningful immigration reforms that will secure our borders, strengthen employment verification and provide a workable path for ‘Dreamers’ with DACA status.”
Arrested were:
- Rabbi Elliott Tepperman – Bnai Keshet in Montclair
- Rev. Ann Ralosky – First Congregational Church in Montclair
- Pastor John Rogers – First Congregational Church in Montclair
- Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz – Bnai Abraham in Livingston
- Kristin Peck – Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Summit
- Nedia Morsey – member of immigrant rights group Make the Road New Jersey in Elizabeth
After their hearing was postponed on June 19, the six protesters held a press conference outside the Westfield Municipal Court to demand that the Trump Administration “stop separating families at the border,” a reference to its “zero tolerance” policy regarding illegal immigration.
TAP Into Montclair posted a video of the press conference, which can be seen below.
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Photos courtesy of Peter Wert
