Let My People Go- NJ Day of Actions Against Immigration Enforcement

NJ Statewide Day of Actions

Protesting Immigration Detention and ICE/Police Cooperation

At County Seats throughout NJ
(currently actions are planned for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Morris, Somerset, Union, others TBA)

This day of actions around the state is tied into a larger nationwide response to Arizona’s SB1070. The passage of this draconian law is motivating people of faith to come and speak out against the terrible injustice of our immigration policy as we see it being played out in our own communities.

Currently in NJ we have:

-5 county jails plus the Elizabeth Detention Center which are holding immigrants
-287(g) program in place in Monmouth and Hudson Counties
-Over a half dozen anti-immigrant bills in our state legislature
-The threat of having ICE’s “Secure Communities” in every county in the very near future

These circumstance combined with the legislation that was just passed in Arizona create a sense of urgency that we speak up. We will be attempting to organize vigils in as many of the county seats as possible with priority being given to those counties where immigrants are being held in the county jails.

We will take their prayers for justice to the streets, standing as witnesses outside the courthouses, county administration offices, sheriff's offices, county jails and other places where the brokenness of our immigration system is most apparent.

This day of action is a part of the National Solidarity Vigil and Fast for Arizona, June-July 2010 sponsored by The Interfaith Immigration Coalition. The "Isaiah 58 National Solidarity Vigil and Fast for Arizona" supports those who are praying and standing strong in Arizona and to demonstrate that the commitment of people of faith to fight for comprehensive immigration reform has not wavered and will not diminish. It will be occurring on a rolling basis throughout all 50 states.

The struggle for freedom has been enmeshed with the culture and history of America since its earliest days. This struggle did not end with the revolution rather it has been carried forward through the abolition movement, labor movement and the civil rights movement. To this day the struggle continues. Currently we have two classes of workers and residents - those with rights and full protection under the law and those who are being exploited and persecuted because of their immigration status.

Join us July 1st As We Demand

· An End to 287(g)

· A Halt to the Deployment of “Secure Communities”

· A Stop to the Raids

· An End to the Detention of Workers

· No Copycat Arizona Legislation in NJ

Because Community Enforcement will not Fix a Broken System

· Community Enforcement is flawed

· Community Enforcement is costly

· Community Enforcement makes us less safe

AND Because

· Raids & Detention Tear Our Families and our Communities Apart

Sponsored by: NJ Advocates for Immigrant Detainees, AFSC, Pax Christi NJ, IRATE & First Friends, NJ Forum for Human Rights, Casa Esperanza

For more information or to Co-sponsor contact

Kathy O’Leary kolearypcnj@gmail.com or Craig Phipps casaesperanzanj@yahoo.com


The "Isaiah 58 National Solidarity Vigil and Fast for Arizona" will begin on June 6, 2010 and continue with constant prayer and public witness through July 28, the date on which implementation of SB1070 will begin. During these eight weeks, vigil participation will roll from one region to another, with faith communities in groups of states leading activities for one week at a time.

Each week, the vigil will engage individuals in the assigned states in constant prayer and will include at least one public prayer event. Vigil participants will take their prayers for justice to the streets, standing as witnesses outside their statehouse, detention center, school, and other places where the brokenness of our immigration system is most apparent.