Camden County Progressive Groups Picket Norcross Rally in Blackwood 

A coalition of progressive groups picketed the Norcross Rally luncheon today, calling for state leaders to demand changes to New Jersey’s electoral structures, ethics reforms and real progressive change. The luncheon, which is a fundraiser for Congressional incumbent Rep Donald Norcross, brought together unelected power broker George Norcross, his brother the Congressman Donald Norcross, Governor Phil Murphy and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It cost $2800 per person to attend the event on the Camden County Community College campus. 

“For the price of one lunch with the Norcross Brothers here at Camden County Community College, you could almost attend an entire year of full time study. Are you kidding me?” Said Susan Druckenbrod, of South Jersey Women for Progressive Change.

“Representative Norcross is attempting to steal the progressive label, but is anything but progressive on a number of key issues. He is bad on the environment- he takes money from Covanta, one of the worst examples of environmental injustice in our country today. He aligns himself with anti-environmental organizations criticized by Greenpeace and other progressive groups. Norcross has a record of not supporting public education in favor of school privatization, and he is also the recipient of tens of thousands of dollars in defense contractors.” Noted Kate Delany, President of the South Jersey Progressive Democrats. “Unlike Bernie Sanders whose small dollar donors make up over 50% of his campaign funds, a tiny 1.75% of Norcross’ donors are small dollar; he is a favorite of corporate interests. Norcross is in Congress in a deep blue district, because his brother is the most powerful man in NJ, not because he is some kind of progressive hero. Why would Nancy Pelosi come here of all places, for a fundraiser? What about the swing districts?”

“Donald Norcross pretends to be the candidate for the common man, but these high dollar donations are out of reach for most people. Instead of small donors supporting him, Rep Norcross is influenced by big money donors, and that is out of step with this progressive district.” Said Gary Samuels, Camden City resident and community organizer. 

“Donald and George Norcross are two sides of the same coin. It’s a good cop/ bad cop routine. George pulls the strings and Donald executes the plan. The Economic Opportunity Act, which awarded over a billion dollars to Norcross connected companies is the clearest example of this.” Said Crystal Evans, a resident and community organizer in Gloucester Township. “We are frustrated that otherwise good Democratic leadership is hobnobbing with someone who is likely under FBI criminal investigation and his brother who has followed his marching orders. The national conversation is highlighting how we need change in political leadership- and that starts here in the Democratic Party, the party we are part of, the party we believe in, and the party we love and would love to improve.”

“Speaker Pelosi has successfully called out Donald Trump for the same behavior— from speaking poorly about immigrants, to using public government for personal and private gain. Why won’t she do the same for the Norcross family? George has spoken about immigrants in a racist way; he leverages his political power to gain public contracts. Pelosi has stood up to Trump’s undermining of national elections, and here in NJ, George Norcross is an unelected power broker who uses his muscle to put the thumb on the scale of our elections in the form of the Line and other mechanisms.” Said Chris Emrich, Elections Director of South Jersey Progressive Democrats.