At the most local level, we see two lanes. One lane is electoral, encouraging members to run for office, endorsing candidates that align with our values and policy goals, and providing field support to campaigns by recruiting members to canvas, phonebank, text, or otherwise volunteer. The second lane, and the one that I sometimes feel is underrated, is boots on the ground, bodies in the streets: advocating in the halls and offices of power, and protesting in the streets when that power refuses to listen. The electoral lane often feels more proper, more established. It’s the way you’re supposed to do things. But many of our communities in NJ and in Essex County specifically have gotten no relief from the electoral path. For example, the families of those harassed, abused, and even murdered by police in NJ have been continually let down by the elected, legislative path. Even after the 2020 uprising following George Floyd’s unconscionable murder, when Governor Murphy marched, promised reforms, and indicated he expected NJ to be a national leader, little action actually followed.

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