Day-long rally fights ‘modern-day slavery’
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Day-long rally fights ‘modern-day slavery’

By Special to NJJN October 30, 2013, 12:00 am Edit
Members of the Stand Against Human Trafficking organizing committee included, from left, Patricia Devine Harms, Junior Leagues State Policy Affairs Committee; Susan Neigher, NCJW West Morris Section; Melanie Roth Gorelick, CRC of the Jewish Federation o
Members of the Stand Against Human Trafficking organizing committee included, from left, Patricia Devine Harms, Junior Leagues State Policy Affairs Committee; Susan Neigher, NCJW West Morris Section; Melanie Roth Gorelick, CRC of the Jewish Federation o

Hundreds of people came to the Morristown Green on Sunday to voice their opposition to human trafficking and learn how to make their voices heard.

Stand Against Human Trafficking — organized by the NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking and the Morristown Human Relations Commission — ran from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; its aim was to raise awareness about modern-day slavery in New Jersey.

Throughout the day, elected officials and representatives from advocacy and community organizations, seven colleges, and several high schools came to the stage to speak out against human trafficking. More than a dozen anti-trafficking organizations had tables with petitions and educational literature.

Speakers from the Jewish community included Lesley Frost, Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey; Melanie Roth Gorelick, Community Relations Committee of Greater MetroWest NJ; Susan Neigher, National Council of Jewish Women, West Morris; Rabbi David Levy, Temple Shalom, Succasunna; Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz, Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston; and Rabbi Moshe Rudin, Adath Shalom, Parsippany.

A host of local and county government leaders, including members of the NJ Assembly, delivered messages to the gathering of more than 200 people, along with area leaders of other faith communities.

Musical entertainment was provided by students of Project Stay Gold, an abolitionist high school club; the Morristown Music School; and singer/songwriter Melissa Sperber accompanied by musician Nicolas Fontannaz. The artist Anne Dushanko Dobek displayed “Promises Promises,” her exhibit remembering four Mexican trafficking victims.

The NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking, which is convened by the CRC of Greater MetroWest NJ, represents more than 70 organizations.

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