Faith in New Jersey Launches Live Free New Jersey: Statewide Movement to Combat Gun Violence, Mass Incarceration and Criminalization, Led by Those Most Impacted

TRENTON – Live Free New Jersey, a grassroots movement dedicated to combating gun violence, mass incarceration, criminalization and police brutality, officially launches today as a statewide movement that is part of the powerbuilding vehicle, Faith in New Jersey. Led by those that are closest to the hurt, including formerly incarcerated individuals, survivors of gun violence and those impacted by it, Live Free New Jersey aims to address systemic injustices on the local, state, and federal levels to create a safer, more equitable New Jersey for all.

New Jersey has grappled with the devastating effects of gun violence, criminalization, mass incarceration, and all-too-frequent instances of police brutality that disproportionately affect Black communities and has fractured trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Recognizing the urgent need for change, Live Free New Jersey is emerging as a change agent, committed to driving transformative action through community organizing that heals and builds the power of communities while centering Black culture, the Black church, and Black faith as part of the Live Free USA national network.

“At Live Free New Jersey, we refuse to accept gun violence, mass incarceration, and police brutality as inevitable realities of our society,” said Rev. Dr. Russell Owen, Statewide Organizer of Live Free New Jersey. “We believe in the power of communities coming together to demand justice, healing, and liberation for all. By centering the voices and experiences of those most impacted by these injustices, including the formerly incarcerated, we are determined to create meaningful change that uplifts and wields the power of every member of our community.”

Through its multifaceted approach, Live Free New Jersey will launch a people powered statewide movement in order to:

– Combat Gun Violence: By advocating for legislation and local policies that ensure gun violence programs have ongoing funding and ensure gun violence is remedied through a public health framework with a hospital- and community-based eco-system of public safety. One that centers deep healing to address the root systemic and structural causes of violence.

– End Mass Incarceration: The ills of mass incarceration have ripped Black families apart which in turn has destroyed whole communities that once flourished. This will be done by addressing poverty, creating alternatives to incarceration that center redemption, restoration and healing. We will also work to ensure  returning citizens are fully free with all rights restored and no barriers to living lives of opportunity.  Communities will assert their power to dismantle policies that create profit off the imprisonment of Black bodies and perpetuate cycles of incarceration and poverty.

– End Criminalization: The criminalization of Blackness begins in the school system. By demanding investment in trauma informed care and restorative practices to dismantle the policies that target Black youth and thereby feed the school to prison pipeline, children will get to exist as children and be afforded the inherently deserved opportunity to contribute to their communities and the larger society.  In addition we will focus on dismantling local policies that increase the public’s interactions with law enforcement leading to criminalization.

– End Police Brutality: By continuing our platform that demands police accountability, transparency and the creation of Civilian Complaint Review Boards with subpoena power, communities will begin to heal the psychological and physical abuse that has plagued Black communities for centuries.

Live Free New Jersey invites all justice impacted and concerned individuals in solidarity and support of its mission. Together, we can build a New Jersey where all residents can live free from violence, oppression, and fear. We encourage all those interested to join the Live Free New Jersey Movement at https://finj.info/FINJ .

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Live Free New Jersey is a movement within Faith in New Jersey that brings together people from across New Jersey to end gun violence, mass incarceration, criminalization, and police brutality on the local, state, and national level. It is a local federation of the Live Free USA network.

Faith in New Jersey is a multi-faith multi-racial power building vehicle for faith communities and everyday people traditionally excluded from the decision making that impacts their everyday lives. Through faith-based community organizing we deliver tangible changes for communities to thrive with a co-created social justice agenda that supports human rights, expanding democracy, ending gun violence, restorative, racial, economic, and immigrant justice on the local, state, and federal level.

Faith in New Jersey is a non-partisan 501c3 local federation of the Faith in Action national network and proud members of the Live Free USA network.