News

Rutgers Presbyterian Church joins with those across the United States and the world in condemning the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as the murder of Ahmaud Arbery by white vigilantes in Brunswick, Georgia.

These tragic deaths, like countless others before them, are the consequence of racist systems, forged throughout our long national history of racial violence and terror. In this system, twin evils of epidemic police violence and infectious Covid pandemic claim a vastly disproportionate number of Black lives.

We confess that we have too often been silent as systemic racism has claimed the lives and livelihoods of our Black sisters and brothers. We have too often acted as if their lives did not matter. And so, we stand in solidarity with those calling for justice for George, Breonna, Ahmaud, and the many others who have been robbed of life.

As the fires of rebellion and righteous indignation burn in our city and across the nation, we remember the words of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who observed that “riot is the language of the unheard.”

As people of faith and Christian members of a Peace Church, we condemn police violence and all forms of racial terror, and we recommit ourselves to transformative justice and the creation of a city, nation, and world free of racism and violence.

Adopted by the Session on the 30th of May 2020

In this profile of Rutgers, The New York Times highlights its activism and social justice efforts. Pastor Andrew discusses Rutgers' inclusivity, saying, "People who otherwise feel marginalized or pushed out by regular congregations, more thoughtful people, say, or those who like to ask questions about faith, started to gather around our congregation."

Our New Americans Committee and friends welcomed two new families from Afghanistan.

The Sadat Family arrived on February 8 and the Amiris on February 22. Both families are working very hard to get acclimated to their new life in America, thanks to the numerous volunteers who have helped in many ways.

The Khojas are thriving; the younger girls are doing well in school; the 4 adult kids are working and studying; and the parents are learning English.

A special thanks to the volunteers who are tutoring Hadreen, Narin, and Abdulla and helping Suzan with her writing.

Finally, the Abdulhamids, the first family from Syria we began to help are also doing well. The boys are busy in school; Ahmad is working; and Mayada has recently obtained her driving license. A book with her recipes and stories will be published in September; more info can be found at www.breadandsaltbetweenus.org.

The New York Times reported on the Khoja Family’s harrowing journey to the United States and Rutgers’ support of their resettlement, amid the executive order banning Syrian refugees from entering the country. Rutgers volunteers continued to prepare the apartment for the Khojas’ arrival, as the travel ban upended the Khojas’ travel plans. Eventually, about 50 volunteers greeted the Khojas as they arrived at JFK Airport in New York.