NEWARK — The city’s religious leaders stood united on Thursday to send a message to the White House: President Donald J. Trump’s policies are unfairly targeting and scapegoating their communities.
“Washington needs to hear that we are not in agreement with what they are trying to do with our people,” said Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree, manager of the city’s office of clergy affairs, as she was flanked by interfaith leaders who nodded in approval. “When something is done to one of us, we should all be affected by it.”
Interfaith leaders congregated at City Hall to denounce Trump’s travel ban on refugees and citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries — and address rising fear in immigrant communities.
U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement conducted immigration raids in at least 11 states last week though none have been reported in New Jersey.
“We have people hiding in their homes because they are afraid, we have Hispanic people being scapegoated,” said Rev. Dr. Mamie Bridgeforth of Faith Christian Ministries. “This is an attack against the very core of all that we say we stand for and it is not of God.”
Trump said Thursday he would issue a new proposal for his travel ban on citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries after his original executive order was challenged in court and suspended. He had defended the ban and said it will keep the country safe.
“This temporary lifting of the ban has eased some but we cannot let our guard down,” said Imam Daud Haqq, President of the Imams Council of Newark.
On Thursday immigrants across the country — and in Newark — participated in a campaign called a “Day Without Immigrants” which encouraged all immigrants to stay home from work and school to show how much they contribute to the economy.
Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Quiles said the city was committed to helping everyone in the community stay informed and safe.
“This is a nation of immigrants, we want everyone to know that we are going to stand united,” she said.
Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.
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