Workers At 10 NJ Nursing Homes Take Knee Against Police Brutality

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Nursing home workers in 10 New Jersey towns plan to hold silent vigils at their job sites to protest police brutality and "systemic racism" on Thursday.

The vigils are being held in partnership with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, and will take place in East Orange, Ridgewood, Burlington Township, Union City, Perth Amboy, Edison, Brick Township, Lakewood Township, Wayne and Westfield (see times and locations below).

According to a statement from 1199SEIU, the actions will last eight minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time that a police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd. They will take place during breaks and shift changes in front of the facilities.

The vigils will pay tribute to Floyd, as well as others such as Breonna Taylor, who were “unjustly killed at the hands of police,” the union stated.

Here’s why the vigils are taking place, 1199SEIU said:

“Nursing home workers and their communities are at the center of two public health crises—COVID-19 and racially-motivated police violence. The large majority of nursing home workers are low-wage people of color whose neighborhoods suffer the worst impacts of health inequities and systemic racism.”

“The murder of George Floyd and the nationwide eruption of grief and outrage has made it clear — our country will no longer turn a blind eye to the police violence that has taken countless black lives,” 1199SEIU Executive Vice President Milly Silva said.

“1199SEIU healthcare workers are today standing up against oppression and systemic racism as they continue to serve on the frontlines battling COVID-19,” Silva said. “We demand accountability, civilian oversight of police, and more investment in health, housing and youth services.”

According to the union, vigils are planned at the following locations:

• Brick Township - 1 p.m., Willow Springs Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, 1049 Burnt Tavern Road
• Burlington Township - 3:15 p.m., Marcella Center, 2305 Rancocas Road
• East Orange - 3 p.m., Windsor Gardens Care Center, 140 Park Avenue
• Edison - 3 p.m., JFK Hartwyck at Edison Estates, 10 Brunswick Avenue
• Lakewood Township - 3 p.m., Atlantic Coast Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, 485 River Avenue
• Perth Amboy - 3 p.m., Alameda Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, 303 Elm Street
• Ridgewood - 11:30 a.m., Ridgewood Center, 330 Franklin Turnpike
• Union City - 3 p.m., Castle Hill Health Care Center, 615 23rd Street
• Wayne - 6:45 p.m., Arbor Ridge Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, 261 Terhune Drive
• Westfield - 1 p.m., Westfield Center, 1515 Lamberts Mill Road

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.