Organizers are calling it the "No Hate, No Fear: Immigrants And Refugees Are Welcome Here" rally
MORRISTOWN -- Supporters of immigrants and refugees will be holding a rally Saturday in the wake of a fake border patrol photo that caused some concern.
Organizers are calling it the "No Hate, No Fear: Immigrants And Refugees Are Welcome Here Rally."
Participants will gather at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Margaret's Church.
From there, they will walk down Speedwell Avenue toward the Morristown Green, and then to Morristown Town Hall, before turning around and returning to the church.
Wind of the Spirit, an immigrant resource center, posted an overview of the rally on its Facebook page.
"This rally will beat to the tune of human rights and sing the song of a diversity that made the United States the beautiful & culturally brilliant country it is today. The present threat is great enough, and the times tumultuous enough, that we can no longer sit back," it read.
Rally organizers are also urging the town to adopt a resolution declaring Morristown a "fair and welcoming community" to immigrants.
At least 11 other municipalities in New Jersey have adopted the resolution, including Madison on Feb. 6.
The fake border patrol picture, which emerged about three weeks ago, appeared to show authorities arresting someone in front of a local business. The image was actually a fake compiled by putting two separate photos from different times and places together.
It was condemned by four town officials -- Mayor Tim Dougherty, Morristown Police Chief Peter Demnitz, Council President Stefan Armington and David Silva, a church pastor and the town's official liaison to the Hispanic community -- at a March 1 press conference.
Dougherty reiterated that town police officers are not, and will not, perform the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, under what is known as the the ICE 287(g) program.
According to the 2010 Census, about one-third of the population of Morristown is Hispanic.
Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook