Immigrant Demonstration in Newark
On Thursday August 29, several individuals from Essex County joined clergy from several towns to support Faith in Essex, a multifaith group, for a peaceful demonstration in front of the Hall of Records in Newark – where the Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and the Essex County Freeholders maintain offices. We delivered letters requesting that there be a Civilian Oversight Board and a Detainee Advocate for the Essex County Correctional Facility. Recently, there have been several incidents of abuse of detainees and most especially, immigrants that violate human rights.
Rabbi Greenstein from Shomrei Emunah, along with several clergy from various faiths around Essex County participated. Letters need to continue to be written to support this effort.
What you can do: Please contact Essex County Executive and Freeholders, Below is a suggested message as well as the emails for our Essex County Executive and Freeholders.
SUGGESTED WORDING
Dear County Executive DiVincenzo and Freeholders,
As a person of faith and a citizen of Essex County I am horrified to learn about Faruk Karimu’s abuse at the Essex County Correctional Facility and subsequent deportation.
I insist that the officers involved be removed from interacting with the detainee population until an investigation has been completed.
I insist on a civilian oversight board as described by ACLU-NJ in their March 13, 2019 letter to the Freeholders. Stakeholders must receive a draft of the ordinance and nominate appointees.
Sincerely,
[INSERT YOUR NAME]
Contact information for County Executive DiVincenzo and Freeholders
Joseph DiVincenzo, County Executive:
973-621-4400 /
Brendan Gill, President, at-large:
973-621-4479 / bgill@freeholders.
Patricia Sebold, at-large: 973-621-4484 / psebold@freeholders.
Rufus Johnson, at-large: 973-621-4483 / rjohnson@freeholders.
Romaine Graham, at-large: 973-621-5680 / rgraham@freeholders.
Robert Mercado, District 1 (Newark: North Ward, East Ward, parts of Central, South & West Wards)
973-621-4477 / rmercado@freeholders.
Wayne Richardson, District 2 (Newark: parts of South & Central wards; Irvington; Maplewood)
973-621-6457 / wrichardson@freeholders.
Tyshammie Cooper, District 3 (Newark: part of West Ward; East Orange, Orange and South Orange)
973-621-4473 / tcooper@freeholders.
Leonard Luciano, District 4 (Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn, Roseland, Verona, W. Caldwell and W. Orange)
973-621-4481 / lluciano@freeholders.
Carlos Pomares, District 5 (Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair, Nutley)
973-621-4467 / cpomares@freeholders.
I appreciate the update on the issue of the contract with ICE in Essex County.
I urge everyone to write to the freeholders to express your opinion and concern.
I wrote several weeks ago and received several responses, including one from the county executive and several freeholders. It is important to let them know that we care about this issue.