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:
Signers thus far:
In faith and solidarity,
Rev. Elder Yolanda Smith – Kingdom Life Covenant Embassy
Elder Pastor Cassandre Marshall – Emmanuel Healing & Deliverance
Assistant Pastor Everett Smith – Church of the Living God Pentecostal Tabernacle Church
Pastor, Executive Director Sonita Johnson – St Johns Pentecostal Outreach Church
Evangelist Catherine Combs-Smith – Union Chapel AME Church
Director of Mental Health & Pastoral Care Kamaria Byrd-McAllister – First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens
Pastor Terry Richardson – First Baptist Church of South Orange
Pastor Dennis E Hughes – Bethel AME Church
Pastor Jameel Morrison – Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Minister Valerie Williams – Calvary Baptist Church
Steward Frances Smith – Mt. Pisgah AMEC
Senior Pastor Rev. Lesly Devereaux – Trinity AME Church
President Jimmy Small – Muslim League of Voters
Reverend Terry Smith – Welcome Baptist Church
Minister Anneese McRae – Reach Out Ministry
Founder/CEO TiAira Neal – Crowned Ministries
Bishop Joyce Lewis-Wyche – Outreach Center of Faith
Rev. Eric Hoheisel – Faith Journey ChurchConcerned Black NJ Citizen
Alyssa Wilds – Next Dimension Family Church
Associate Pastor Sanetta Ponton – Metro Community Church
Elder Julia Feacher – The Vizion Foundation
Rev Thurselle Chisolm-Williams – New Hope Baptist Church of East Orange
Rev Ritney Castine – North Stelton AME Church
Pastor Charles Wilson III – Centennial AME Zion ChurchYouth
Pastor Katherine Nunnally – Calvary Pentecostal Church
IMAMWAHYUN DEEN SHAREEF – MASJID WAARITH UD DEEN
District Superintendent Reverend William M. Williams, III – The United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey
Minister Dameon M. Stackhouse – Macedonia Baptist Church
Associate Pastor Thomas Holmes – First Baptist Church
Rev. Dr.Mattie Carmon – Mount Zion AME Church
Senior Pastor Rev.Dr. W.Golden Carmon – Mt Zion AME Church
Pastor Prescott Butler – Irvington UMC
Reverend Dr.Rena’ Morrow – Sharon Baptist Church
Bishop Fred Rubin – Community Refuge Church of Christ
Elder Dwayne M. Harris – Remnant AME Church
President Sonya Redd – Franklin Twp. Interfaith Council
Pastor Rev. Melvin Wilson – St. Matthew AME Church
Pastor Derrick Grant – Impact Church
Rev. Dr. Jerome Stembridge – Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church
Social Justice Ministry Leader Nina Norman – Pilgrim Baptist ChurchFaith Leader/Member212 – Paletza OLoughlin Pilgrim Baptist Church of Red Bank
Social Justice Ministry Chair Dianne Watson Kendall – Pilgrim Baptist Church Red Bank
Senior Minister Pastor Terrence Porter – Pilgrim Baptist Church
Pastor Donna Stewart – St. Thomas A.M.E. Zion Church
Pastor Larry Jennings – Union Chapel AME
Clergy Corinne Arthur – Park United Methodist Church
Pastor Rev Faith E Mack – Quinn Chapel AME Church
Minister to Men Reginald Clark – Saint James A.M.E. Church, Newark, New Jersey
Pastor Rev. Dr. W.Golden Carmon – Mount Zion AME Church
Lead Pastor Timothy Jordan – Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Trenton
Pastor Rev Gerald L. Truehart II – Lion of Judah
Associate Minister David Holder – Shiloh Baptist Church Plainfield NJ
President Semaj Vanzant, Sr – General Baptist Convention of New Jersey
Senior Pastor Christopher Jones – First Baptist Church of Hillside, NJ
Pastor Shawn Pate – Mt. Ararat Baptist Church
Senior Leader Dr. Reginald W. Steele – The Healthy Church Initiative
Minister Donna Ho-Shing – St. Matthew A.M.E. Church
Reverend George Britt – Mt. Teman AME Church
Pastor Carolyn Davis – Cornerstone Baptist Church
Pastor Carol Patterson – First Presbyterian Church
Reverend Darlean Cohen – Mt Zion Baptist Church
Pastor John Harris – Galilee Baptist Church
Senior Pastor John Page – Mount Olive Baptist Church
Executive Pastor Gina L McKinney – Calvary Baptist
Reverend Lemuel Brown – Mt Bethel
Pastor Rupert Hall – Hope For the City
Pastor Gregory Smith – Fisk Chapel AME Church
Pastor Jonathan Lewis Jr. – St. Paul Baptist Church
Lead Pastor Seth Nix – The Acts Church
Pastor Quavon Newton – St. Stephen AME Zion Church
Pastor Preston Thompson – Ebenezer Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Danielle L. Brown – Shiloh Baptist Church
Senior Pastor Cory Jones – Tabernacle Baptist Church
Pastor Rev. Dr. Samuel Hayes – Friendship AME
Pastor Emeritus Rev. Gregory Jackson – Mount Olive Baptist Church
Pastor Maureen Gerald – First Baptist Church Of Princeton
Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree – Newark Interfaith Alliance
Rev. Marian Sykes Johnson – St Matthew AME ChurchSenior
Pastor Willie Francois – Fountain Baptist Church
Pastor Melvin Wilson – St. Matthew AME Church
Reverend Paul Martin – Mt. Pisgah AME Church
Rev Kenneth Mitchem – St. Paul AME Church
Pastor Weldon McWilliams – Christ Temple Baptist Church
Minister Archange Antoine – A Place to Connect with God
Rev.Dr. James A Dunkins – General Secretary GBCNJ
Pastor Richard Norris II – Bethel-Hosanna AME Church
Pastor Crystal James – Union A.M.E.
Pastor Tiffany Malone – Macedonia AME Church
Pastor Rev. Gloria Walker, MDiv. – Bethel AME Church
Pastor Rev Lillie Battle – Trinity AMEC Cinnaminson NJ
President Rev. R. Fulton Hargrove, ll – Fellowship of churches of south Jersey
Pastor Rev. Ratona Robinson – St. James AME Church
Reverend, Doctor/Pastor Arthur Hall – Mt. Zion Bordentown
Reverend Karen Moore – Bethel AME
Overseer Senior Pastor Bishop Pernell – BET HaSHEM YHWH
Pastor Dorothy Patterson – Wallace Temple AME Zion
Rev. Tammy Mitchell – Jacobs Chapel
Pastor Charles Wilkins – Grant Chapel AME
Pastor Josiah Haggins – Mount Pisgah
Pastor Maurice Tyndell – Mount Moriah AME Church
Pastor Howard Jenkins – Bethel AME Moorestown,NJ
Pastor Rev Leslie Robin Harrison – Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church
Family, doing this work takes faith, commitment and resources. We need your help to continue this work. Please consider making a donation to support these efforts by visiting our website HERE.
And you can always follow us on Facebook and Instagram to view the latest news.
