Congress Candidate In NJ-8: Floyd Protest Was ‘Cry For Justice’

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The most powerful thing Hector Oseguera saw at the George Floyd protest in Essex County last weekend? It may have been you.

Oseguera, who is running for a U.S. Congress seat in New Jersey's 8th District, was one of thousands of people who turned out for a massive-yet-peaceful rally in Newark last Saturday.

New Jersey's 8th District includes Belleville and part of Newark, as well as the following municipalities in Bergen, Hudson and Union counties: Fairview, Bayonne (part), East Newark, Guttenberg, Harrison, Hoboken, Jersey City (part), Kearny (part), North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken, West New York and Elizabeth.

Oseguera recounted Saturday’s event through a series of social media posts (see below).

Patch reached out to Oseguera, asking him about the most powerful things he encountered during the rally. Here’s his reply:

“I came to the rally as someone who has seen far too many unarmed black men and women murdered by the police. What I saw in Newark was a multi-racial, multi-generational coalition crying out for justice. George Floyd's murder is emblematic of an all too common injustice, and the names of those unjustly slain by police officers are too many to name. We did not come to Newark looking to spark violence, we came to demand that black skin not be viewed as a reason to extinguish the life of an innocent human being. The nation has been witnessing countless videos of police physically attacking non-violent protesters. In Newark, police presence was minimal, non-confrontational, and kept to a safe distance. The outcome reflected our desire to have our voices heard by exercising the right to peacefully assemble. In the fight for justice, we often feel alone, more so in this COVID era. But the most powerful thing I saw was thousands who felt just as I did, who recognized that an injustice committed against one is an injustice against us all, and who decided that we would not be silent.”

Oseguera added:

“The most powerful thing I saw was also what I did not see. I did not see any elected officials, with the exception of Ras Baraka, willing to stand with their constituents to demand justice.”

Oseguera, who identifies as a "progressive," has declared his candidacy for the Democratic Party primary. He's challenging incumbent Rep. Albio Sires, a Democrat who was elected to his seat in 2006.

Sires released his own statement on Floyd's death Saturday:

"George Floyd was killed by the very people who are supposed to protect our communities. When Derek Chauvin ignored his pleas of 'I can’t breathe,' he ignored Mr. Floyd’s humanity, something that happens far too often in this country. We cannot pretend to be a just and fair nation when our brothers and sisters cannot go for a jog, sleep in their own home, or live their lives without the threat of violence and death. While the violence we’ve seen taking over peaceful protests is indefensible, it is long past time for us to reckon with the deep flaws and divisions that exist in our society and justice system. For Mr. Floyd and every single soul that we have lost to racism and hate, we must actively pursue justice and work to create a world where future generations do not have to live in fear."

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