120+ interfaith clergy endorse Bob Menendez for re-election; decry Trump-Hugin politics of fear, division
Newark, NJ – More than 120 of New Jersey’s faith leaders threw their support today behind Bob Menendez’s run for a third term in the U.S. Senate. At a rally held at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark, Christian, Muslim and Jewish clergy praised the Senator for his long, distinguished record fighting for their constituencies, while condemning Republican Bob Hugin’s tacit support for Donald Trump’s politics of fear and division.
“Thank you to all the faith leaders for your support as we head into the final three weeks of an election that has never mattered more. There are those of us who can look back and be proud to know we’ve stood on the right side of history when it comes to voting rights, civil rights, and women’s rights. And then, there are people like my Republican opponent, the greedy, drug company CEO Bob Hugin, who has been on the wrong side of history again and again and again,” said Sen. Menendez. “Bob Hugin is complicit in the corrosive policies and divisive politics of this President, which aim to divide the American people for political gain, while wealthy CEOs like Hugin and Trump laugh their way to the bank. Never has it mattered more for all us to stand up for our American values, like tolerance, equal rights under the law, inclusivity and opportunity for all. These are the values that make America exceptional. These are the values that make America great.”
Bob Menendez, who wrote New Jersey’s first hate crimes law when he served in the State Legislature, has fought for equal rights and opportunity under the law, to uphold civil rights, to protect the right of voters and to reform our criminal justice system. The Senator cosponsored the Voting Rights Advancement Act to stop voter suppression, the End Racial Profiling Act and the National Criminal Justice Reform Act. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez always challenged acts of hate and anti-Semitism at home and around the world. He has consistently stood in opposition of Trump judicial nominees with poor records on voting and civil rights, and the Administration’s plans to cut affordable housing.
“From fighting for a comprehensive immigration reform in a bipartisan way, to fighting for Dreamers and standing up for our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico, Senator Menendez is a champion for Latinos in New Jersey and across the country,” said Rev. Joshua Rodriguez. “Senator Menendez has never forgotten where he came from, and his determination to expand opportunities and provide high quality education and healthcare to our community speaks clearly about his values. With the stakes higher than ever, we have to make sure we keep him in Washington, so that he continues to use his voice for the voiceless and stand up to an administration that misrepresents our community.”
The Senator has led the fight in Congress to increase corporate diversity, passed student loan reform and increased funding for federal Pell grants. He helped write the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that expanded access to health care for millions of Americans who didn’t have health coverage, and protected patients with pre-existing conditions. The Senator also fought to expand federal programs, like Community Development Financial Institutions, that leverage investment in underserved communities to increase economic development and job creation.
“In this coming election, the stakes could not be higher. When looking at the option between supporting Senator Robert Menendez or his opponent, the choice couldn’t clearer,” said AME Bishop Gregory Ingram. “Senator Menendez has been a champion for those in our country who are often forgotten about, while his opponent has fattened his pockets taking advantage of cancer patients when they are most in need. There is absolutely nothing about Hugin that should give anyone the impression he is going to do anything for New Jersey.”
Greedy, drug company CEO Bob Hugin donated hundreds of thousands of dollars from the fortune he made ripping off cancer patients to elect Donald Trump. He served as his New Jersey finance chair, as a Trump delegate to the Republican National Convention, and held a post on the Trump transition team. Several speakers pointed to Hugin’s unwavering support for Trump and conspicuous silence over Trump’s policies, including his Muslim ban, calling all Mexicans “rapists,” tearing babies away from their mothers at the border, comparing neo-Nazi’s to peaceful protestors, eroding protections against housing discrimination, undermining the ACA, and proposing steep cuts to student aid programs and federal investments to help spur local economic and job growth.
“I support Bob Menendez’s re-election because, in spite of all the money spent on negative, misleading ads, he is still best-positioned to fight against ‘45’s’ agenda,” Rev. Calvin McKinney said. “Senator Menendez has shown time and time again that he is an advocate for disadvantaged communities in New Jersey and throughout this country. New Jersey cannot afford to send Trump another rubber stamp supporter for his divisive agenda. Therefore, I enthusiastically put my support behind Senator Menendez’s re-election.”
The following New Jersey faith leaders have publicly announced their support for Sen. Menendez:
Rev. Jorge Aledo, Union City
Imam Abdula Aleem Razzaq, Jersey City
Rev. Eduardo Almonte, Perth Amboy
Rev. Dr. Darryl Armstrong, Trenton
Rev. Sergio Aritles, Newark
Bishop Karim Askew, Newark
Rev. Dr. Angela Battle, Pennington
Rev. Dr. Charles Boyer, Woodbury
Imam Mustafa Brent, East Orange
Rev. Mamie Bridgeforth, Newark
Rev. Stephen Bryant, Hightstown
Rev. Alton Byrd, Newark
Rev. Alejandra Caballero, New Brunswick
Rev. Daniel Cali, Denville
Rev. Dr. W. Golden Carmon, Sr. , New Brunswick
Rev. Dr. Mattie Carmon, New Brunswick
Rev. Michael Carr, Newark
Rev. Ruby Carr, Newark
Rev. Joe Carter, Newark
Rev. Julia Castro, Newark
Rev. Barrientos Cedeño, Linden
Rev. Dr. Kenneth Clayton, Paterson
Rabbi Daniel Cohen, South Orange
Rev. Hilario Crispín, Jersey City
Rev. Juan De Jesus, Jersey City
Rev. Marta De Jesus, Jersey City
Rev. Manuel de La Cruz, Lakewood
Rev. Dr. Lesly Deveraux, Long Branch
Father Paul Donahue, Newark
Rev. Patrica Drayton, Newark
Imam Mustafa El-Meen, Newark
Rev. Linda G.S. Ellerbe, Newark
Rev. Bernadette Falcone-Lopez, Perth Amboy
Rev. Bolívar Flores, Jersey City
Rev. David Ford, Roselle
Rev. Oscar Galvan, Elizabeth
Rev. Hiram García, Camden
Rev. John Given, Englewood
Rev. Andres González, Perth Amboy
Rev. Freddy González, Vineland
Imam Tracy Gordon, Newark
Rev. Barry Graham, Paterson
Presiding Elder Howard Grant, Newark
Rev. Tanya Green, Rahway
Rev. Kortney Haigler, Passaic
Imam Daud Haqq, Newark
Rev. Marilyn Harris, Teaneck
Minister Carlena Haynes, Jersey City
Rev. Dr. Stanley Hearst, II, Jersey City
Rev. Dr. Stanley, Hearst, Sr., Morristown
Rev. Alicia Hernandez, Carteret
Rev. Amparo Hernandez, Jersey City
Rev. Raquel Hernandez, Carteret
Rev. Dr. Joseph Hooper, Newark
Rev. Dennis Hughes, Newark
Rev. Dr. Danielle Hunter, Asbury Park
Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram, AME First Episcopal District
Rev. Gregory Jackson, Hackensack
Bishop Reginald Jackson, AME Church
Rev. David Jefferson, Newark
Rev. Osvaldo Jimenez, Morristown
Rev. Priscilla Joyner, Jersey City
Rev. James A. Kuykendal, Paterson
Rev. Ana Ledesma, Union City
Rev. Nathaniel LeGay, Jersey City
Rev. Leslie Leonor, Newark
Rev. Leslie Leonor, Newark
Rev. Wilfred Lewis, Cranford
Bishop Pierre Lherisson, East Orange
Rev. Freddy Liriano, South Amboy
Rev. Keith Marshall, Trenton
Rev. Arturo Martínez, Jersey City
Imam Antar Mateen, Newark
Imam Aqeel Mateen, Newark
Rev. Jean Maurice, East Orange
Rev. Calvin McKinney, Garfield
Rev. Reginald McRae, Plainfield
Rev. Reginald McRae, Plainfield
Rev. John McReynolds, Jersey City
Rev. Antonio A. Merino, Perth Amboy
Rev. Abaristor Miranda, Belleville
Rev. Kenneth Mitchem, East Orange
Rev. Sharon Monsanto, Westwood
Rev. Marcelino Nieves, Newark
Rev. Richard Norris, II, Pennsauken
Rev. Julio Olivencia, Perth Amboy
Rev. Raul Otero, Perth Amboy
Rev. Dana Owens, East Orange
Rev. Ramon Pagan, Paterson
Rev. Santiago Paniagua, Newark
Rev. Vanessa Perry, Kenilworth
Rev. Deithra Postle, Teaneck
Rev. Linda Rassmann, Pleasantville
Rev. Marti Robinson, Rahway
Rev. Nestor Ramirez, Newark
Rev. Leslie Ramos, Newark
Rev. Bertha Reels, Jersey City
Rev. Joshua Rodriguez, Jersey City
Rev. Louise Rountree, Newark
Rev. Raul Ruiz, Union City
Rev. Orlando Sánchez, Carteret
Rev. Ruben Sánchez, Newark
Imam Ali Sasha, Newark
Rev. Kenneth Saunders, New Brunswick
Rev. Jesus Seville, Newark
Rev. Fabio Sosa, Newark
Rev. Dr. Ronald Slaughter, Newark
Rev. Ronald Sparks, Freeholder
Rev. Simeon Spencer, Trenton
Rev. Dr. Jerome Stembridge, East Orange
Rev. Lester Taylor, Englewood
Rev. Michael Thomas, Jersey City
Rev. Regena L. Thomas, Atlantic City
Rev. Esmeralda Trinidad, Jersey City
Rev. José Trinidad, Jersey City
Rev. Jaime Vega, Union City
Rev. Kevin Williams, Newark
Rev. Glenn Wilson, Newark
Rev. Anita Wright, Montclair
Rev. Janel York, Paterson
Rev. Esabelo Zaqueo, Perth Amboy
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