Mike German, speaker, and Julie Burstein, moderator, kick off the Defending Democracy speaker series on July 24.

NJ 11th for Change presents Defending Democracy, a three-part speaker series examining today's burgeoning challenges to our democracy's system of checks and balances. The talks will be moderated by Peabody-Award winning radio producer Julie Burstein, creator of WYNC's Studio 360 series.

Part One, "An Evening With a Former FBI Agent," features Mike German, a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice who served 16 years as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Since 9/11, U.S. intelligence agencies have taken actions, in our name and in secret, that would shock and disturb many of us if we truly understood them. German takes a closer look at some of these tactics, discussing how cultivating fear comes straight from the authoritarian playbook, and considering the solutions to be found in strengthening our local communities.

• What: Defending Democracy: An Evening With a Former FBI Agent
• When: 7:00 - 9:00 PM Tuesday, July 24
• Where: Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown NJ 07960
• Free. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Seating is limited. Click here for Eventbrite link.

NJ 11th FOR CHANGE STATEMENT ON THE NOMINATION OF BRETT KAVANAUGH FOR U.S. SUPREME COURT

NJ 11th for Change has deep concerns about President Trump’s nomination of Washington, D.C. native Brett Kavanaugh for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kavanaugh, currently a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, has a troubling and consistently conservative record that appears to be in line with the current administration’s tendency to challenge federal policy and the rule of law.

In a 2012 law review article regarding separation of powers, Kavanaugh argues that presidents should be exempt from criminal investigations, prosecution and civil lawsuits while in office – a distinct red flag, considering the legal clouds that surround the Trump White House.

In 2011, Kavanaugh wrote a dissent arguing that Washington, D.C.’s local assault weapons ban was unconstitutional.  In 2015’s Priests for Life v. HHS, he supported upholding an employer’s right to exclude birth control from employee health coverage. And in 2017, Kavanaugh participated in a heated battle over Jane Doe, a teenage immigrant seeking an abortion, arguing in a dissent that imposing a delay on the procedure did not present an undue burden.

He has also issued a series of opinions in cases involving the Environmental Protection Agency that have displayed a tendency to whittle away at Obama-era EPA regulations, according to a profile at SCOTUSblog.

These aspects of Kavanaugh’s legal career fail to align with our district’s values of accountability, equality, inclusivity and compassion. Neither do they align with our concerns about important issues such as reproductive health, the environment and gun safety legislation.

Supreme Court decisions are not esoteric footnotes. They have direct and profound impact on the everyday lives of people from all walks of life in our country -- and in our diverse congressional district.

We are hardly alone in finding Kavanaugh’s record troubling. Back in 2006, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, observed at the judge’s confirmation hearing that Kavanaugh was a “very bright foot soldier” for a “partisan political fight.” Kavanaugh’s record on gun legislation drew extreme misgivings from the gun-violence prevention groups Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords Courage to Fight Gun Violence. And Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, had this to say: “Brett Kavanaugh's record as a judge and lawyer is clear: hostile to health care for millions, opposed to the CFPB & corporate accountability, thinks Presidents like Trump are above the law – and conservatives are confident that he would overturn Roe v. Wade.”

We cannot deny this choice causes us great unease. But we will face it like we face all the challenges of these trying times - with our sleeves rolled up to fight for what’s right. In this case, that includes demanding our Senators, Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, not only vote against this nominee, but lead the fight to make sure he does not join the Court where he can cause serious damage for decades to come.

NJ 11th for Change: Statement on the Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy

June 27, 2018 -- NJ 11th for Change joined the collective gasp across the country today over what  Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement might mean for our democracy for decades to come. Like Americans everywhere, we count on the courts, including the highest in the land, to uphold the rule of law and protect our rights. While there has been no shortage of troubling decisions issued by the current Court, today’s political landscape provides much reason to worry about what lies ahead and whether those fundamental tenets will be given due consideration when Kennedy’s replacement is chosen.

News like this only serves to motivate us and makes us work harder to get people to vote. We must elect members of Congress who will earnestly and responsively represent their constituents, serve as the proper check and balance demanded of the legislative branch, and work to promote equality, compassion, inclusivity and a decent quality of life. In NJ's 11th congressional district, we believe the right person for that job is Mikie Sherrill.

Yesterday, about 200 of you joined NJ 11th For Change and several other organizations at the inaugural Fridays for Families -- a vigil in front of Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen's office in Morristown to express opposition to the Trump administration's draconian policies leading to indefinite detention of families, including those with young children, at the U.S. border. There were passionate, informative speakers, a lot of excellent signs, and a great sense of shared purpose. If you missed it -- don't worry. Fridays for Families will be continuing weekly at Schuyler Place.

NJ 11 for Change Political Director Elizabeth Juviler had audience participation going with a show-of-hands-exercise -- how many people present had immigrants in their families? (Answer: Lots.)

Also among the speakers was Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic candidate for the 11th District congressional seat, who asked, "How are they going to reunite these families?" She reminded the audience that in a democracy, every one of us is "responsible for our government."