Northern NJ Coalition To Host Englewood Protest Following Arrests

ENGLEWOOD, NJ — The Northern New Jersey Coalition, a collection of anti-racist activist groups from the top half of the Garden State, have penned a letter full of new demands following the arrest of four Englewood activists during a protest last weekend.

Community organizers Ainsworth Minott, Jennese Torres, Victor M. Urbaez and Victor J. Urbaez were arrested in what the coalition said was a "targeted attack to silence the activists who organize weekly Black Lives Matter protests."

Minott, who organized the Black Excellence rally on Oct. 24, was taken to the hospital after the encounter with police, who can be seen on video slamming him to the ground.

Video was circulated widely across the social media channels of activist groups in Ridgewood, Wayne and Teaneck, and a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to pay for their legal fees.

Now, as has been continuing weekly since the death of George Floyd this summer, another protest is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. in Englewood's Mackay Park.

How'd we get here?

Englewood Police Chief Lawrence Suffern said Sunday that officers were attempting to break up a fight before the arrests happened.

In his statement, Suffern made no mention of whether the four people arrested were involved in that altercation.

An internal investigation is underway, Suffern said.

However, according to Northjersey.com, the police department may be facing an independent investigation as well.

"My gut instinct tells me we need an independent review," Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes told the publication.

The Englewood Policeman's Benevolent Association also responded to the arrest.

In defending their officers, the union said demonstrators disrupted an investigation into the fight, which prompted the arrests, which they deem rightful.

"The force used by our officers was appropriate and completely necessary in order to effect the arrests," they wrote, in a statement posted to Facebook.

Further, they said, Wildes can have his independent investigation, but they see him as someone playing both sides.

"We continue to be deeply disappointed with the lack of support from our elected officials, specifically Mayor Wildes," they wrote. "Mayor Wildes has consistently chosen to play both sides against the middle. His support of law enforcement changes depending on whether or not he can gain from it politically."

They also addressed accusations from Minott, who they said lied about an incident at another protest in Englewood.

"Mr. Minott's behavior is unacceptable and rationalizing his actions will contribute to a higher level of danger for our officers and citizens," they said.

The Northern NJ Coalition's response to Wildes' recent statements was warmer, but guarded.

In their recent letter, they pondered if his words were performative, or if real change — or at least an attempt at it — would follow.

"The Mayor has a unique opportunity to enact real change having witnessed police brutality firsthand, and now we expect him to capitalize on this opportunity to make long lasting changes in the community," the Coalition wrote.

Northern NJ Coalition

The Northern NJ Coalition is a collection of over 50 anti-racist, political and community activist groups from across the northern half of New Jersey and New York City.

They include activist groups from Bergen and Passaic County, including Wayne, Ridgewood, Teaneck, Paramus and Westwood.

The groups represent a prominent swath of anti-racist organizers who mobilized in the summer of 2020 after the death of George Floyd.

In addition to protests, organizers in Wayne, Ridgewood and Ridgefield Park have been seeking changes in their public schools. Many have championed other causes in their communities, including the painting of a recent Black Lives Matter mural in Teaneck.

All the while, these groups have been connecting via social media, often trumpeting each other's respective community actions there.

Their letter, sent to the press and published on social media Thursday, is perhaps the largest show of collective organizing by the group yet.

There were reportedly only about 15 people in attendance in Englewood last Saturday.

If the show of support in writing is any indication, expect a bigger turnout this Saturday.

Read the full letter below: