Morris group ponders how to help Syrian refugees in face of Trump ban

R.A.M.P. meeting at St. Peter's in Morristown, Jan. 31, 2017. Photo by Leslie Raff
R.A.M.P. meeting at St. Peter's in Morristown, Jan. 31, 2017. Photo by Leslie Raff
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By Leslie Raff

About 40 members of R.A.M.P. (Refugee Assistance Morris Partners) gathered at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday night to brainstorm how to move forward in the face of President Trump’s recent ban on Syrian refugees.

The Rev. Janet Broderick leads meeting about how to help Syrian refugees. Photo by Leslie Raff
The Rev. Janet Broderick leads meeting about how to help Syrian refugees. Photo by Leslie Raff

“Our focus is to help Syrians come here and settle,” said the Rev. Janet Broderick, rector of St. Peter’s, who hosted the meeting.

The 150-member organization, comprised of 20 faith groups, including mosques, synagogues and churches from across Morris County, helped settle its first Syrian family in Boonton in November 2016.

Broderick’s agenda for the evening was to focus on four themes and figure out the next step. The categories: 

  • Growth of strategic relationships/fundraising
  • Political action
  • Research
  • Stress reduction on immigrants

RAMP meeting at St Peter's in Moristown, Jan 31, 2017Attendees were asked to vote for one category, prioritizing a course of action. Political action won out hands down, and members were encouraged to write their local congressman and telephone every day.

In addition, the group agreed on the importance of continued support to their refugee family, and also identifying and connecting with other like-minded organizations.

Broderick then asked: “Where should we show up together with our banner?”

Fridays with Frelinghuysena weekly attempt by members of NJ 11th for Change to meet with Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.),  was proposed, and unanimously agreed upon.

“Let’s join with our R.A.M.P. banner and demand a town hall meeting with Rodney Frelinghuysen,” a woman exclaimed.

R.A.M.P. meeting at St. Peter's in Morristown, Jan. 31, 2017. Photo by Leslie Raff
R.A.M.P. meeting at St. Peter’s in Morristown, Jan. 31, 2017. Photo by Leslie Raff

R.A.M.P. and members of Morris County’s Jam-e-Masjid Islamic Center plan to gather at the Congressman’s Morristown office (30 Schuyler Place) on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, between 2 pm and 3 pm.

NJ 11th for Change has scheduled a membership meeting for Sunday, Feb. 5, at 2 pm at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morris Township.

Later in the month, Frelinghuysen will be invited to a series of “town hall meetings” throughout the district, including a Feb. 21 meeting in Boonton.

And on April 1, R.A.M.P. is inviting the public to join a welcome dinner party for its refugee family, at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship at 5 pm.

 

3 COMMENTS

  1. Do we not have enough of our own US citizens that need our help ?? Why must we always choose to grandstand on hot-button politically volatile issues ? It’s simply a passive aggressive form of retaliation to having (your) candidate lose. There are plenty of suffering people here that we need to attend to first. Who died and made US United States Lord and Keeper of the world ? Was it Jesus or is it just fashionably (I’m better than you) liberalism that started this idea that We the people of the US are supposed to help the world and in so doing have become lax in our immigration policy and border protection that we are literally walking on eggshells til the next attack. Please wake up people.

  2. This is great that so many people want to help those in need. Let’s all get together and and plan how we can follow Australia’s immigration policies. The goal is not necessarily to put people on an island, but to isolate them in a protected area until they are fully vetted.

    We want our government to protect us and not allow “just anyone” to enter our borders. Let’s all rally around President Trump and help him achieve his number one priority as president; keeping America safe.

    Please write to your local, state, and federal officials to encourage them to support President Trump and his administration.

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