Faith leaders in New Jersey are vowing a determined opposition to the 'cruel' policies of President Trump, standing up for minorities and the vulnerable.
Pastors and religious leaders gathered on Thursday as part of Faith in New Jersey, a diverse coalition of imams, rabbis, pastors and priests vowing advocacy for the vulnerable on issues of health care and immigration, according to Religion News Service.
'The battle we are waging is the same for undocumented folk as it is for black folk, as it is for poor folk, as it is for folk needing health care in this country,' said Bishop Dwayne Royster, political director for the progressive faith-based alliance PICO National Network, speaking at Bethany Baptist Church, Newark New Jersey.
He added: 'We are fighting the same battles with the same people.'
The church's pastor Timothy Jones said: 'Not on our watch will anyone have to stand or fight alone,' 'Now more than ever is the time for people of all faiths to get together to work for the joint goal of building community.'
More than 150 clergy members attended the interfaith gathering.
The Archbishop of Newark, Cardinal Joseph W Tobin was emphatic about the place of faith groups opposing what it sees as inhumane policies.
'What keeps despots, dictators awake at night, what topples evil empires is the little person who goes into the square in the middle of town in the dark of the night and scrawls on the wall, 'No.' and I want to say to you, we are the 'No' that God scrawls on the wall,' Tobin said.
'We are the 'no' to a nation who is heartless, who would deport people separating them from their families and their loved ones simply because they are victims of a broken system.'
Tobin has publicly fought to protect undocumented immigrant Catalino Guerrero from his order of deportation. New Jersey's Democrat Senator Robert Menendez, who also supported Guerrero, spoke at the church.
He condemned the 'cruel' Republican legislation designed to repeal Obamacare that the US House of Representatives passed on Thursday. Critics say the legislation would serve the wealthy whilst leaving the poor at serious risk by removing compulsory health insurance.
'Indeed we practice different faiths...but there is far more that unites us than divides us,' Menedez added.
Faith leaders also spoke about the need for advocacy on issues such as gun violence, criminal justice reform and climate change.
