LIAISON’S CORNER
MUUF was well represented at the UU Faith Aaction NJ annual meeting held on Saturday, May 31. Kudos to the task forces for their excellent presentations at the event and for their perseverance in fighting for our rights. All the task forces are looking for more people to help them keep New Jersey a “safe” state. If you feel that you might be interested in this work, you can check out one or more of the task forces without obligation. The task forces that are presently active are Criminal Justice, Immigration Justice, Environmental Justice, and Reproductive Justice (includes LGBT+ issues).
FIRST FRIDAY ACTION HOUR NEEDS YOU!
In some recent reporting regarding the Immigrant Trust Act (ITA) and the claim from key state legislators that they are not willing to move on the legislation based on Attorney General Matt Platkin’s position.
Charles Loflin, UUFANJ’s Executive Director shares that this should raise a number of concerns for this task force for the following reasons.
- The Attorney General should not be interfering in the legislative process. His role is to enforce the laws passed by the legislature.
- The underlying rationale that the ITA would be open to challenges that could lead to losing protections from the Immigrant Trust Directive is not only conjecture but contested by our key coalition partners include ACLU New Jersey. The legal basis for the ITA is THE EXACT SAME as the legal basis for the ITD.
- SHAME on legislative leadership (especially Senate President Scutari) for his negative response to advancing the bill. This is urgently needed protection in this state and the unwillingness of leadership to move forward on this is unacceptable.
- DOUBLE SHAME on President Scutari for hiding behind AG Platkin’s position on this. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what the AG thinks about this bill. It is the legislature’s job to legislate.
- In my opinion, it is past time to get loud and vocal about calling out this legislative body on the issue of the ITA. Politicians are making the mistake of assuming that the ITA is only important to the constituency composed of immigrants. It is our job to make sure these lawmakers understand that this is an issue of far greater importance that includes a MUCH wider constituency.
- While I KNOW those of you reading this have likely already made multiple calls to your legislators about the ITA, it’s vitally important that we get EVEN LOUDER about our support of the ITA.
- We will be sharing opportunities for taking further action at this week’s Action Hour. I believe our faith calls us to do everything we can at this important juncture to try to move the ITA forward. This really is an all-hands-on-deck moment.
