A Prophetic Call to Justice: Black Faith Leaders Oppose NJ Senate Bill 4613

Black CLergy are urged to support this call by joining the statement at this link:

A Prophetic Call to Justice: Black Faith Leaders Oppose NJ Senate Bill 4613

FightBackBetter fully supports this call of NJ Black Clergy to stop the dangerous removal of OAG oversight of NJ State Poloce. The following is the text of the statement:

To the Honorable Members of the New Jersey Legislature,

We, the undersigned Black faith leaders across the state of New Jersey, write to you with a sacred urgency and moral clarity rooted in our prophetic tradition. We stand in firm and unequivocal opposition to Senate Bill 4613, which seeks to remove the New Jersey State Police from the purview of the Attorney General’s Office and establish it as a separate department within the executive branch.

This bill is not merely a bureaucratic restructuring—it is a dangerous retreat from accountability, transparency, and justice. It threatens to deepen the already entrenched culture of impunity within the New Jersey State Police, a force whose history and present are marred by systemic racism, discriminatory practices, and violence against Black residents.

For decades, Black motorists in New Jersey have been disproportionately targeted, harassed, and brutalized by the State Police. From the infamous racial profiling incidents on the New Jersey Turnpike to the federal consent decree that placed the agency under supervision for ten years, the record is clear. And yet, even after years of oversight, the rot remains.

Recent investigations by the Office of the State Comptroller and the Attorney General’s Office have revealed that the NJ State Police continues to engage in racially biased policing, discriminatory hiring and promotion practices, and a culture of favoritism that shields misconduct. Reports released in 2024 found “deeply troubling conduct” within internal affairs and promotional processes, including racist comments, retaliation against whistleblowers, and the protection of officers with ties to white supremacist organizations.

The State Police knew for years about data showing adverse treatment of Black and Latino motorists—and did nothing. This is not oversight. This is complicity.

To now propose removing the State Police from the Attorney General’s oversight is to reward failure and enshrine impunity. It is a betrayal of the public trust and a direct threat to Black lives.

We call on the Legislative Black Caucus and every member of the New Jersey Legislature to vote NO on S4613. We urge you instead to advance Senate Bill 2348, which codifies the Attorney General’s Use of Force Directive and mandates regular review and revision of use-of-force policies based on principles of de-escalation, proportionality, and the sanctity of human life.

The recent election sent a powerful message from New Jersey voters, who decisively rejected a platform promoting the removal of police accountability measures—such as proposals to “take the handcuffs off police” and restrict force reporting requirements only to incidents involving shootings. This outcome makes it clear that the electorate understands accountability and public safety go hand in hand, and that communities want both. Notably, the Black church played a pivotal role, mobilizing voters and advocating for justice and equity. Now, the Legislature must answer this call by enacting bold and courageous policies that reflect the will and values of the people they serve.

We are calling on you to be the firewall against federal hostility toward Black communities. We are calling on you to disrupt the culture of misconduct that has plagued law enforcement in our state. We are calling on you to protect our communities—not just today, but for generations to come.

As faith leaders, we are guided by the sacred mandate to “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” We will not be silent. We will not be complicit. We will not allow the machinery of the state to operate without moral scrutiny.

Vote NO on S4613. Vote YES on S2348. Stand with us. Stand for justice.

In faith and solidarity,

[Signatures of Black Faith Leaders Across NJ]

Black CLergy are urged to support this call by joining the statement at this link: