Thursday's 3 things: Jersey strong

Julia Smith

08 May 2025 — 2 min read

A protest outside Delaney Hall in Newark earlier this year.

Item 1. NJ code red

I just got up to speed on the "anti-brawl bill" that has already passed in the NJ House and Senate. If Governor Murphy doesn't veto, it will pass in the next few days and "could lead to the criminalization of legitimate public gatherings and grant police wide latitude to pass judgment on acts of protest."

In NJ? ➡️ Call Governor Murphy's office TODAY at 609-292-6000 and say you're a constituent asking the Governor to veto this bill. It takes one minute (plus or minus time spent on hold) and the staffer who answered my call said, Oh, I'm familiar! in a very kind, knowing tone.

Not in NJ? ➡️ Forward to someone who is.

Item 2. ICE out NJ

Newark Mayor / NJ Governor candidate Ras Baraka and many other electeds say that the new 1,000-person ICE detention facility in Newark should never have been opened. ➡️ Sign the petition to tell them you agree, and urge them to keep fighting to shut it down.

Item 3. New Jersey as refuge

I've mentioned a few times that springtime in the U.S. is National Abortion Fund-a-Thon season. This week I joined a team that's raising funds for the NJ Abortion Access Fund.

In 2024 alone, NJAAF provided over $427,954 for 1,140 patients from 23 states and DC, plus 6 countries outside the US, working alongside our sibling funds to ensure that no one who needed abortion access was turned away.

Learn more at my fundraising page: https://fund.nnaf.org/hereforyou2025.

Can you help me raise $400?

Every little bit helps the National Network of Abortion Funds get closer to their national goal of $2.5 million.

Under a blue sky, protesters hold up signs with anti-ICE logos, such as NJ SAYS NO DICE TO ICE!

Friday's two things: Protective steps, collective glimmers

Item 1. Weekend wish That in our gatherings–in-person, virtual, whatever they may be–we access glimmers like this. (J. Wortham's newsletter) Item 2. Safety at protests If you're taking your phone ➡️ consider these tips from Electronic Frontier Foundation or this guide via @imperfectactivista on Instagram.

Thursday's two things we love

Item 1. We love a checklist Here's a new list with some key ways to care for yourself and others, from Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg and Zack Teutsch: Care for yourself and others!Checklist 2.0Life is a Sacred TextRabbi Danya Ruttenberg Item 2. We love situating ourselves in

It's a sign! Wednesday's three things

Here's this week's art fix, since I was out canvassing yesterday and didn't make it. Item 1. Suggestion Are you making a protest sign this week? Monica Trinidad has advice (starting around the 14:15 mark in How to Make Art for Social Change

Monday's things

Item 1: What do we mean by "mutual aid"? Here is a chart from Dean Spade (and he expands on the concept a lot in this book), and here is a quick explainer from Moms Clean Air Force. It might mean starting or joining an ICE Watch program