By Faith in New Jersey and the New Jersey Clergy Coalition for Justice

Governor Phil Murphy,

It is time for you to end Qualified Immunity in New Jersey.

We have counted over 30 times you have publicly declared Black Lives Matter in response to the state sponsored killing of Black people. During your Covid19 press conferences, you attempted to speak of the trauma Black people face when members of their community are killed by police officers who were supposed to serve and protect them. As a sign of support, you attended the Hillside rally and locked arms with the Black community that helped you win your election in 2017. Now you are championing the bill to replace the slave-era Freeholder name with the new Commissioner name.

You have made all the right symbolic gestures, but that’s not enough. We now need you to move into showing us Black Lives Matter by ending a racist law that was introduced in 1967 to protect officers who unjustly killed Black people. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has criticized qualified immunity saying it was not an appropriate law. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said “is not just wrong on the law; it also sends an alarming signal to law enforcement officers and the public. It tells officers that they can shoot first and think later, and it tells the public that palpably unreason­able conduct will go unpunished.”

For far too long, public officials have allowed structural racism in policing to go unchecked against Black people. Time after time, Black people are called upon to support candidates who promise to stand with our community, but these candidates often lack the moral courage to undo the racist history of policing that has terrorized our communities.

In New Jersey, we have seen Jameek Lowery, Maurice Gordon, Raheem Bryant, LaShanda Anderson, Radazz Hearns, Marcus Jeter and countless others killed and brutalized by police. Black people are tired of dying, tired of not getting justice, and tired of not getting equal protection under the law. Black people want officers held accountable. They want their constitutional and human rights respected. They want you, who received 94% of our vote to honor your word and protect the Black community by ending the racist Qualified Immunity law.

Governor Murphy, you have a history of standing boldly during symbolic gestures but you disappear when it comes to bold legislation for Black people suffering under state violence. The NJ Clergy Coalition for Justice and Faith in New Jersey believes it is time you step up and join Governor Jared Polis of the State of Colorado in demanding the New Jersey Legislature send you a bill that ends Qualified Immunity in 2020. The Black community cannot be used as a tool for your 2021 re-election campaign. Black families need justice for their loved ones who are killed and brutalized by police officers who hide behind a racist law. You need to end Qualified Immunity in New Jersey now.

In Solidarity with the Black Lives Movement,

Rev. David Ford, Sr., St. Matthews Baptist Church in Roselle – Union

Rev. Geralda Aldajuste, St Paul United Methodist Church in Willingboro – Burlington

Rev. Ramon Collazo, St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Union City – Hudson

Rev. Preston Thompson, Ebenezer Baptist Church in Englewood – Bergen

Rabbi Joel N. Abraham, Temple Sholom of Scotch Plains/RAC – Statewide

Rev. Kathryn S. Irwin, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Nutley – Essex

Rev. Heyward Wiggins, Camden Bible Tabernacle in Camden – Camden

Bishop Fred Rubin, Community Refuge Church of Christ in Manalapan – Monmouth

Dr. Rev. Ronald L. Owens, New Hope Baptist Church in Metuchen – Middlesex

Imam Saffet Catovic, Muslim Chaplain at Drew University in Madison – Morris

Rev. Erich Kussman, Saint Bartholomew Lutheran Church in Trenton – Mercer

Rev. Corey Lewis Teague, New Generation Healing & Deliverance Tabernacle – Passaic

Rev. Milton Lester, Jr. Somerset Baptist Church in Somerset – Somerset

Rev. Alexander C. Bright, Disciples for Christ Church of God in Hammonton – Atlantic

New Jersey Clergy Coalition for Justice is focused on policy issues that bring social, economic and political justice to oppressed and disenfranchised groups of people. We help organize and build coalitions of faith leaders and community leaders to advocate for Justice in New Jersey.

Faith in New Jersey is a multi-faith and multi-racial network of faith leaders and faith communities working together to advance an immigration, racial, economic and social justice agenda at the local, state and federal level.