On a cold morning in front of the New Jersey State House, community partners kept spirits warm by urging legislators to pass the 2025 People’s Agenda during this year’s lame duck session. Over a dozen speakers and more than 100 attendees gathered for the rally and lobby day hosted by the ACLU of New Jersey.
“Today, we the people are here in Trenton to bring the People’s Agenda to the halls of the legislature and the ears of our elected officials,” said ACLU-NJ Campaign Strategist Ami Kachalia, who kicked off the rally. “As the Trump administration continues to wage attacks on our civil rights and liberties, New Jersey lawmakers must advance these long-stalled, key racial and social justice bills during lame duck. The time is now for action.”
“We are so proud to be here alongside our partners to encourage lawmakers to take immediate action and advance the People’s Agenda before the end of the legislative session,” said ACLU-NJ Associate Director of Civic Engagement Alejandra Sorto during her opening remarks. “Our message is loud and clear: at a time where our communities and our rights are under attack, we are united in fighting for policies that move us toward creating a more just, equitable, healthy, and affordable state for all.”
After a few rounds of lively chants, speakers began to highlight each of the bills listed in the People’s Agenda.
“We are here today to demand that our lawmakers start standing up for all New Jerseyans,” said New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice Deputy Director of Strategy Viri Martinez, who spoke on behalf of the Immigrant Trust Act (S3672/A4987). “State lawmakers cannot sit on the Immigrant Trust Act any longer. New Jerseyans have made it clear that we are tired of Trump and ICE walking all over us. Lawmakers, hear us clearly when we say pass the People’s Agenda and the Immigrant Trust Act.”
Speakers advocating for the New Jersey Voter Empowerment Act (S3009/A4083) addressed the crowd next.
“It is not hyperbolic to say that right now, our democracy stands in peril, and so too does our right to vote,” said the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice Director of the Democracy & Justice Program Nuzhat Chowdhury. “Our vote is our power and our power can, and always has been, a threat to those who would harm us and our communities. The People’s Agenda calls for New Jersey to pass and sign into law the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey. There’s no more time – our democracy cannot afford to wait.”
Rallygoers then heard from community leaders on the importance and impact of the Climate Superfund Act (S3545/A4696).
“People are dying because of climate change. And who should pay?” asked Environment New Jersey Director Doug O’Malley.
“Polluters!” responded attendees.
“That’s right,” continued O’Malley. “We need to make sure the oil and gas companies that created the mess of climate change pay for their misdeeds. And that is what the Climate Superfund Act will do: generate $2.2 billion per year for 20 years – a downpayment on the action we need.”
A group of attendees holding signs that read “TRANS RIGHTS NOW” encouraged the advocates who spoke next and uplifted the lifesaving potential of S3491/A4656. This bill would establish protections for gender affirming care and abortion providers and patients.
“We are not here to talk about gender affirming care in isolation: gender affirming care is reproductive care, and reproductive care is gender affirming care,” said Garden State Equality Department of Trans Resiliency Project Manager Aisling MacDonald. “Shield laws that protect both are simple, common sense. We need this shield bill to go through so we can maintain health care for everyone.”
As the rally progressed, people driving by honked their horns in solidarity, inspiring louder cheers from the crowd.
“We believe that no one should have to choose between live-saving, essential abortion care and paying for groceries, rent, or taking care of your children,” said Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey Executive Director Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, who advocated for S3452/A4601, which would ensure New Jerseyans are able to access abortion and other reproductive health care by eliminating cost-sharing requirements for insurance coverage. “We are calling on the Legislature to pass this bill immediately because abortion is health care, and health care is a human right.”
“The time is now, New Jersey, for us to be a restorative state,” said Rev. Dr. Russell Owen, who spoke on behalf of S2338/A4463, which would bring incarcerated elders home. “There is no reason why the elderly who are committed to their transformation should be lingering in jail to die. They deserve to become productive members of society. Let’s bring the dead back.”
Next, speakers pressed lawmakers to pass S2348/A4175, which would codify and strengthen the protections against police use of force.
“It’s cold out, but the people are bringing the heat,” said Salvation and Social Justice Director of Policy Racquel Romans-Henry. “This bill is for those whose lives we’ve lost, those whose lives have been irreparably harmed by police misconduct, and all communities that live in legitimate fear and distrust. New Jersey has a moral imperative to build a firewall against aggression by locking in these safeguards into statute. This is not radical – this is common sense.”
The final speakers of the rally spoke on corporate loopholes and taxing super millionaires.
“We have a budget problem,” said Make the Road New Jersey Executive Director Nedia Morsy. “We pay our fair share, and we want millionaires to pay their fair share. We’re asking the legislature to take up taxes on super millionaires so that people who earn over a million and those who earn tens of millions are not paying the same rate. Let’s make our taxes more equitable, and let’s close corporate loopholes.”
Before heading into the State House for the ensuing lobby day, rallygoers engaged in another series of chants and a unity clap, symbolizing the shared mission of all in attendance: passing the People’s Agenda.
“For too long, the needs and demands of New Jerseyans have been ignored to favor of policies that erode our democracy, cloud government transparency, allow law enforcement violence to run rampant, and push economic success out of reach for New Jerseyans, especially New Jerseyans of color,” said ACLU-NJ Campaign Strategist Ami Kachalia as the rally came to a close. “We are here today to uplift an agenda that answers New Jerseyans’ calls for racial and social justice. We are stronger together and will not be divided.”
On December 8, advocates made their voices heard at the State House. Now it’s your turn. Send a message to your legislators and urge them to pass the People’s Agenda to make New Jersey more accessible, affordable, safe, and welcoming for all who call it home.
