Sunrise Morris County Becomes 4th Sunrise Hub to Endorse Oakley

Montclair, NJ — Sunrise Movement Morris County became the fourth Sunrise Movement Hub in New Jersey to endorse Imani Oakley for Congress in New Jersey’s 10th District on Monday.

“I could not be more inspired by the energy and dedication that our local Sunrise organizers bring to the climate movement and progressive politics, and it is truly my honor to receive the endorsement of Sunrise Movement Morris County,” Oakley said. “Making strides for environmental justice is going to take more than any one politician; it’s going to take a whole movement. I’m proud to be able to work alongside Sunrise Morris County, Sunrise Montclair, Sunrise Hunterdon, and Sunrise Union in their mission to build that movement, and earning their confidence means so much!”

Oakley — a political organizer who has worked hard to combat systemic injustice in all its forms — is running for Congress in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District on a platform that includes support for the Green New Deal and environmental justice. Her policies include ensuring a just green transition, rapid decarbonization of the economy, and massive federal investment in green unionized jobs for all.

The incumbent, Rep. Payne Jr., has drawn criticism for taking money from some of the worst polluters in the fossil fuel industry such as ExxonMobil, Plains All American Pipeline, and Enbridge — despite currently sitting as the Chair of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Hazardous Materials, and Pipelines — and for having one of the highest absentee rates of any Congressperson.

This endorsement adds to the progressive coalition growing around Oakley’s campaign, including from Brand New Congress, Catch Fire, West Orange Young Democrats, Building Bridges For America, Roadmap for Progress, FutureGen PAC, 3 other Sunrise Movement hubs: Sunrise Hunterdon, Sunrise Union, and Sunrise Montclair, Black Lives Matter activist Zellie Imani, Mt. Rainier Vice Mayor Scott Cecil, Maplewood Mayor Dean Dafis, Muslim community leader and civil rights advocate Selaedin Maksut, and former progressive presidential candidate Marianne Williamson.

“We are building a progressive movement aimed at the forces hurting our communities,” Oakley said. “As Congresswoman, I will work tirelessly to win a future for our children and our planet.”

Imani Oakley is a long-time political organizer and pro-democracy activist running for Congress in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District. The seat covers parts of Essex, Union, and Hudson counties. Her time working in New Jersey political spaces has made one thing clear: our state suffers from rabid corruption. Her campaign is dedicated to ending this system and lifting up working-class communities.

For more information about Imani, please visit: OakleyforCongress.com