231 N.J. faith leaders stand with LaMonica McIver, call charges politically motivated – New Jersey Globe

Clergy says Newark congresswoman have been ‘unafraid to speak truth to power’
By David Wildstein, May 30 2025 11:33 am
A group of 231 faith leaders from across the state are offering their “unwavering support” of Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-Newark), who was charged with assaulting an ICE officer at an immigration detention facility in her home city of Newark earlier this month.
“The charges brought against her in connection with the events at Delaney Hall are a misrepresentation, and an injustice to the character, service, and dedication she has shown to the communities she has long served with honor,” the clergy members, including Rev. Al Sharpton, said in a joint letter.  “These charges cannot be interpreted as anything other than a politically motivated campaign designed to tarnish the reputation of a public servant who has tirelessly fought for justice and equity.”
Among the signers of the letter are Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree, a Newark city councilwoman, Rev. Charles Franklin Boyer, the pastor of the Greater Mt. Zion Church in Trenton and the leader of Salvation and Social Justice, and Rev. Ronald Saunders, the pastor of the St. James AME Church in Newark. 
“Congresswoman McIver has been unafraid to speak truth to power, do her job, and stand up for the marginalized. In our history, we have seen such powerful voices of change targeted in ways meant to silence and intimidate. We will not allow that to happen here. As people of faith, we will never sit in silence in the face of injustice,” the faith leaders stated.  “We believe this prosecution is not about the facts—it is about politics. It is about punishing someone for doing her job. For being fearless. For representing the people, not the powerful”
The clergy members called McIver a “constant advocate for our communities.”
“She has supported expanding access to affordable housing and health care, championed the rights of working people across this nation, and stood shoulder to shoulder with faith-based institutions in our shared pursuit of dignity for all people,” they said.  “Her commitment to public service is rooted in the same values that our congregations uphold: compassion, integrity, and the pursuit of justice.”
Additional signatories include: Minster Diana Abreu; Pastor Javier Abreu; Chief Alhaji Adams; First Lady Tasha Alexander; Pastor Daryl Alexander; Pastor Javon Allen; The Newark Interfaith Alliance; Apostle James Amoh; Pastor Myke Arogula; Pastor Sergio Artiles; Reverend Najiyyah Bailey; Reverend Lula Baker; Pastor Jean Cole Baltram; Pastor Steffie Bartley; Rev. Dr. Curtis Belle; Pastor Samar Biggham; Rev. Dr. George A. Blackwell, III; Bishop Cleveland Blash; Pastor Edward Bohannon Jr.; Pastor Sandra Bowden; Minister Lunic Boyd; Pastor Malachia Brantley; Reverend Joseph M. Brickhouse; Pastor Mamie Bridgeforth; Pastor Desiree Brower; Rev. Dr. Danielle Brown; Reverend Tracey Brown; Lady Veronique Brown; Ambassador Jeffery Brown; Pastor Will Brown; Reverend Floyd Brown Jr.; Pastor Jeffrey Bryan; Pastor Ron Burgess; Pastor Prescott Butler; Pastor Brenda Byrd; Pastor Bernadine Byrd; Pastor Elton D. Byrd; Lady Linda Carlton; Bishop R.V. Carlton; Pastor Michael Carr; Overseer Dr. Mamie Carr; Reverend William Carter III; Rev. Ritney Castine; Pastor William Chambliss; Reverend Dumerzier Charles; Pastor Beverly Christian; Bishop Gerald Christian; Pastor Dale Ciceron; Pastor Kenneth R. Clayton; Reverend Andre Coffee; Pastor Robert Cole Jr.; Reverend Sylvia Coleman; Reverend Deandra Coleman; Pastor Oliver Coleman; Chaplin Sabrina Ellis Collier; Chaplin Sharon Collier; Pastor Lewis Collier; Chaplin Sharise Collier-Johnson; Apostle Roberto Comesanas; Evangelist Debra Cooper; Bishop T. Cooper; Pastor Tammy Copeland; Pastor Patrick Council; Reverend Mattie Council; Reverend Valerie Crute; Apostle Marvin Cratch; Minster Jamillah Cupe; Pastor Kehinde Dada; Pastor Deborah D. Davall; Bishop Kenneth Davall; Pastor Eric Dickerson; Pastor Alfred Dingle; Reverend Sarah Duncan; Rev. Dr. James Dunkins; Minister Ruby Annette Evans; Minister Sheila Epps; Minster Deborah Fitzgerald; Pastor Paul Graves; Reverend Herbert Glenn; Pastor Richard Greene; First Lady Sandra Graves; Pastor Navella George; Pastor Edward D. Harper; Reverend Dr. Marilyn M. Harris; Pastor Anthony K. Hawthorne; Minister Starlett Hartley; Minister Theresa Henry; Pastor Deborah Hicks; Pastor William Hicks; Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr.; Pastor Phyllis Hilliard; Elder Sandra Hargrove; Imam Daud Haqq; Pastor Ellen Hagwood; Brother Abssan Mani Hassan; Reverend Naomi Herrill; Reverend Rosemary Jenkins; Deacon Frank Ingalls; Reverend Queen Mother Imakhu; Pastor John Gamble; Bishop Robert Jiggetts; Pastor Karen Johnson; Pastor Pamela Jones; Minister Sheila Jackson; Reverend Joseph M. Brickhouse; Pastor Jalil Marrow; Pastor Tiffany Morrast; Reverend Fred Morrast; Reverend Roosevelt Pinkston; Pastor Jerry Smith; Pastor Darius Smith; Minister Erica Smith; Elder Jennifer Tiller; Pastor Sergio Artiles; Assistant Pastor Sabrina Owens; Reverend Janet Yolk; Reverend Sylvia Coleman; Pastor Tulio Abel Souza; Pastor Joseph Eyagbon; Commander Khalil A. Shalih; Reverend Toure Marshall; Pastor Pete Palmer; Pastor Shawn Wallace; Pastor Paul Valerius; Reverend Ronald Tuff; Reverend Dr. Glenn B. Wilson Sr.; Pastor Kevin Williams; Pastor Claudia Williams; Reverend Lula Baker; Reverend Deandra Coleman; Reverend Tracey Tisdale; Reverend Thurselle Williams; Pastor Kevin D. Williams; Rev. Douglas L. Williams III; Pastor Liwanda Williams; Reverend Beverly Williams; Elder Betty Moon; Minster Leona Germain; Elder Lelial Love; Bishop Stephon Love; Pastor Fondrea Lewis; Dr. Albert J. Lewis; Reverend Marques Aquil Lewis; Pastor Shaunda Sutton; Reverend Eyesha Marable; Reverend Beverly Williams; Reverend Valerie Crute; Pastor Tyrone Singletary; Reverend Douglas L. Williams III; Pastor Matthew Peay; Reverend Ralph L. Peavy Jr.; Pastor Oliver Coleman; Pastor Craig McDaniel; Imam Abdul Aleem Razzaqq; Imam Umar B. Salahuddin Sr.; Imam Sheick Swaray; Imam Kareem Muhammad; Pastor Samir Mustafa; Reverend William Carter III; Pastor Rahmin Wynn.

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