New Jersey Organizations Demand Strong Response To Insurrectionists

More than 60 New Jersey organizations sign on to a letter demanding the immediate removal of President Donald Trump and the prosecution of all those involved in the failed coup

New Jersey non-profit and grassroots organizations call upon legislators to issue a strong public response to insurrection at Capitol

More than 60 organizations ask for immediate action sending clear message that actions that undermine our democracy are not to be tolerated.

On January 6, 2021, rioters incited by the President of the United States and other elected officials attempted an anti-democratic insurrection at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. A coalition of non-profit and grassroots organizations in New Jersey is now calling for strong measures in response to the event.

The group is issuing letters to all fourteen members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin to initiate action. Listed among their demands are a formal censure of President Trump for his role, a call for the removal of President Trump through the 25th Amendment or impeachment, public condemnation of the racist double standard in policing, and an insistence on a thorough investigation followed by the prosecution to the fullest extent of the law of all involved or complicit in the attack and the failure to secure the Capitol adequately.

Lauren O’Brien, a community organizer who has volunteered on many campaigns and championed for gun safety and environmental issues brought the group together. “During this time of crisis, I felt it was important for our most prominent community leaders to use their collective voice; to send a clear message to our elected officials that we will not tolerate anything less than immediate removal of Donald Trump. We needed to call out the blatant racism on display and demand that all those responsible for the atrocities of January 6 be held fully accountable.”

“Activist groups across the state have been horrified by Donald Trump’s brazen misuse of his office, during the entire term of his presidency. In these final days, Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to our Democracy. We, as a collective community, have been fighting to save our democracy since the 2016 election, and now demand the immediate removal of Donald J. Trump from the office of the presidency. We further encourage all of our elected officials in the state of NJ to advocate his removal as well,” said Marci Bandelli, co-founder of Westfield 20/20.

The advocates recognize that while January 6, 2021, was indeed a dark day for our country, American democracy is strong. The events of that day do not represent the values America stands for and they look upon their elected officials to amplify that message.

Organizational Signatories (in alphabetical order):