The fear and dread and rage have been a lot to deal with this week. The tsunami of terrible has many of us feeling like we are drowning. We are terrified for our friends, neighbors, and family members who are the targets of some of the worst of the executive orders pouring out of Washington.
We have to acknowledge the feelings. And then we need to act. Right now when it feels like everything is crumbling, this advice resonates with us:
How do we move from fear and rage to action? Focus on 1 or 2 things. Think about the concrete actions you can take to impact those ONE or TWO things.
On MLK Day, we did just that. Inspired by Indivisible’s call to host community #HopeOverHate events, we held an open house to gather supplies for the Human Needs Food Pantry and for Toni’s Kitchen.
We shared cocoa and brownies, made lovely connections with old friends and new ones, and ended the day feeling inspired and hopeful. Thank you to everyone who came to Montclair or Morristown, or who sent donations because they could not attend. We are grateful for our community.
But even as we were working to build up our community, our immigrant neighbors were under attack. By now, we have all heard about the ICE raid in Newark this past week. We hope you take the time to watch Mayor Baraka’s press conference and hear directly from our elected officials on how they will respond. Did you know that undocumented immigrants make up 7% of NJ’s workforce and contributed $1.3 billion in state and local taxes in 2022?
NJ 11th for Change will continue to support the work of local groups like the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, Make the Road NJ, and Wind of the Spirit. We will share their calls to action and join them in standing up for our neighbors. Knowledge is power. Know your rights! Save and share this link for vital Know Your Rights (KYR) resources.
Join us for a conversation with Governor Murphy this Saturday!
On February 1st, join us and our friends from BlueWaveNJ for a critical discussion on the progress made under Governor Murphy and how we can protect those gains under the Trump administration. At this pivotal moment, don’t miss the opportunity to hear directly from Governor Murphy on how we protect and build on New Jersey’s progress of the last seven years. From resisting federal attacks on citizens’ rights to safeguarding the economic gains of vulnerable communities, the event will set the stage for the critical challenges ahead.
Sign up here:
https://www.bluewavenj.org/governing_new_jersey
Speaking of important resources, print this out and put it on your fridge. Call your reps!
All Upcoming Events
Events! Register at the links embedded in their titles!
Monday, January 27, 2025
Mass Movement Call: ICE Detention, Trump’s First 100 Days
5:00 PM
Join leading immigrants rights organizations in a Mass Movement Call as we update and prepare to fight back on plans for mass detention and deportation in NJ.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
National Immigration Project: “Community Defense”
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Free Webinar!
Saturday, February 1, 2025
“Governing New Jersey” Speaker Series: In Conversation with Governor Phil Murphy
Hosted by BlueWaveNJ
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Presentation Hall in the School of Communication and Media
1 Normal Ave, Montclair
2025 Gubernatorial Town Hall, Featuring Mayor Baraka, Mayor Spiller and
Mayor Fulop
Hosted by Morris County Dems and the Sussex County Democratic Committee
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Student Center Ballroom at County College of Morris
Monday, February 10, 2025
2025 Gubernatorial Town Hall, Featuring Congressman Josh Gottheimer and State Senator Stephen Sweeney
Hosted by Morris County Dems and the Sussex County Democratic Committee
6:00 PM
Via Zoom
