U.S. Senator Cory Booker - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

March 1,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock’s Superintendent and BOE passed this resolution March 14th, the day of the 17 minute student walkout. Ridgewood Schools matched the virtue signaling ,but stopped short of endorsing the walkout.

Be it resolved by the Glen Rock Board of Education that the Board, upon
recommendation of the Chief School Administrator, approves the following resolution:
WHEREAS , A prerequisite to student growth, learning, well-being and success is a safe and secure school environment; and
WHEREAS, Children throughout the nation have been negatively affected directly and indirectly by violent crimes involving firearms; and
WHEREAS, Military-style assault weapons and large-volume ammunition
magazines were used in recent mass killings in schools and other locations; and
WHEREAS, Profiles of school shooters illustrate the need for a thorough examination of the care and treatment of the mentally ill and for effective intervention;
WHEREAS, The New Jersey School Boards Association’s 2014 study, What Makes Schools Safe?, cited reports by state and federal agencies, which found that mental health intervention did not take place prior to three-quarters of school shootings; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey has among the strongest gun control laws in the nation and the lowest incidence of gun-related deaths, but protective laws are not in place in many other states or at the federal level; and
WHEREAS, The tragedies of Parkland, Florida, of Newtown, Connecticut, of
Columbine High School in Colorado, emphasize the need to address access to firearms and the delivery of mental health services. Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Glen Rock Board of Education, in the County of Bergen, State of New Jersey, urges President Trump and Congress to identify and implement meaningful action to address access to and ownership of military-style assault weapons and ammunition, the delivery of mental health services, and financial support to ensure a safe and secure school climate; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Glen Rock Board of Education supports Governor Murphy’s call to end the “epidemic of gun violence that plagues far too many of our communities” and supports enhancements to state law that will provide protection for our schools and communities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to President Trump, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer, Governor Murphy, State Senator Robert Gordon, Assembly Representative Timothy Eustace, Assembly Representative Joseph Lagana, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the National School Boards Association, Bergen County School Boards, Bergen County Association of School Administrators, Bergen County Association of School Business Officials, and the New Jersey Education Association.

MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION – JANUARY 18TH

January 15,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , U.S. Senator Cory Booker will deliver remarks addressing the theme, “We Shall Not Be Silent,” as The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee of Ridgewood and Glen Rock hosts its 34th annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King. The community is invited to attend this free program, which will take place on Monday, January 18 at the Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton St., in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Senator Booker and The Rev. Joseph Ellwanger, Pastor Emeritus of Cross Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, will be guest speakers during an interfaith worship service beginning at 10 a.m. Rev. Ellwanger is best known as a civil rights activist who marched alongside Dr. King.

The morning service will be followed by an 11:30 a.m. outdoor rally, 12 p.m. community lunch, and 1 p.m. screening of the documentary I Shall Not be Silent. The film highlights the work of Rabbi Joachim Prinz, a key figure in the American civil rights movement.

The program will also include Ridgewood and Glen Rock student speakers and musical performances by the Indian Hills Chamber Choir and Men of Umoja chorus.

“We are thrilled that Senator Booker and Rev. Ellwanger will be joining us as we shine a light on the continuing struggle for racial justice in our country,” said committee co-chair Alice Newton. “Each of them embodies Dr. King’s legacy of not only speaking out for justice, but actively advocating for change. At a time when civil rights issues dominate the headlines – locally and nationally – we welcome their insights and inspiration.”

Rev. Ellwanger, a white pastor, led an African American congregation for nine years at St. Paul Lutheran in Birmingham, Alabama. He went on to serve as pastor of Cross Lutheran from 1967 to 2001. Rev. Ellwanger was active in the civil rights movement and shares his experiences in his book, Strength for the Struggle, copies of which will be available for purchase at the event. He was awarded the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in 2008, and continues to work on projects involving social justice and other issues facing communities today.

I Shall Not Be Silentis an award-winning documentary of the life of Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who spoke out for justice from the synagogues of 1930’s Berlin to the 1963 March on Washington. Rabbi Prinz addressed the crowd just before Dr. King delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech, urging them to actively advocate for racial and social justice.

The annual Ridgewood/Glen Rock Martin Luther King Jr. celebration began in 1983 in an effort to unite area residents, regardless of faith or ethnic background, in worship and action as they work towards peace and justice for all. More than 20 religious groups, the Ridgewood and Glen Rock Boards of Education, local government, and civic organizations participate in and support the event each year. For more information contact Alice Newton at 201-951-9903 or Roann Rubin at 201-704-4650; email MLKgrrwd@gmail.com; or visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee of Glen Rock/Ridgewood, N.J. on Facebook.