Montclair Religious Leaders Arrested At ‘Clean Dream’ Protest

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A trio of religious leaders in Montclair were among six arrested during a protest for a "clean Dream Act” at the Westfield office of U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance on Monday.

The Rev. Ann Ralosky and associate pastor John Rogers of First Congregational Church and Rabbi Elliott Tepperman of B'nai Keshet were arrested after they allegedly refused to leave the congressman’s office.

Other arrestees included Kristin Peck, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Summit, Rabbi Faith Dantowitz of B'nai Abraham in Livingston and Nedia Morsy, an organizer with Make the Road New Jersey.

• See related article: 6 Arrested During Westfield Protest At Rep. Lance’s Office

The protest held at Lance's office called on him to vote for passage of a "clean Dream Act," which would extend a pathway to citizenship for immigrant youth without criminalizing immigrant families or militarizing the border.

Lance was in Washington, D.C. when the protest took place.

The six were joined by 100 DREAMers, clergy and supporters holding signs and protesting. Westfield police officers came later that day to arrest the six for civil disobedience.

The Monday protest was one of a series of actions week collaboratively organized by immigrant rights group Make the Road-NJ of Elizabeth, Faith in New Jersey, Wind of the Spirit, SEIU 32BJ, Bend the Arc, RWDSU, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice and the Jewish Labor Committee.

According to a statement from grassroots advocacy group Faith in New Jersey, there are an estimated 800,000 DREAMers, or DACA recipients, in the United States. An estimated 22,000 are in New Jersey and 4,000 of those reside in Lance’s district.

• See related article: Montclair Interfaith Alliance Will Shelter Immigrants From ICE
• See related article: From DACA To Lawyer: New Jersey Bar Admits 1st 'Dreamer'

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Main photo courtesy of Lisa Brennan

With previous reporting by Alexis Tarrazi, Patch staff