Russ Zimmer

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The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County is hosting a Black Lives Matter rally on Sept. 25.

Black Lives Matter is a social justice movement that was sparked by the 2012 shooting death of an unarmed black teen in Florida.

The movement is controversial in some circles, which argue BLM shouldn't be singling out any one race.

The congregation says the rally is open to anyone and is an opportunity to learn more.

There are parallels between the aspirations of the Black Lives Matter movement and the tenets of Unitarian Universalism, a realization that motivated local spiritual leaders to organize the first Black Lives Matter rally in Middletown.

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The event is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County meeting house, at 1475 W. Front St. in the township's Lincroft section.

Watch the video above to hear Black Lives Matters members explain what the movement represents and what the phrase "All Lives Matter" doesn't.

Black Lives Matter was founded after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, a Florida man who followed and then killed black teenager Trayvon Martin during a confrontation in 2012. The fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the choking death of Eric Garner in Staten Island, both involving police, put the movement front and center in the following years.

Unitarian Universalism is a noncreedal religion, meaning it isn't tied to Christianity, Judaism or Islam or any other organized religion.

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Its membership is encouraged "to articulate their own faith and to listen deeply to what calls them to life," according to the Monmouth County congregation, which says it has more than 300 members. Racial justice is identified as one of the ministry's top priorities.

Rev. Virginia Jarocha-Ernst said there hasn't been any kind of touchstone incident in Middletown that prompted the congregation to respond with a rally.

"Fortunately, we haven’t had those kinds of events that have happened elsewhere," she said, "but I'm also sure that people of color in our communities are having a hard time.”

Middletown is one of the whitest towns in the state — only 6 percent of residents are people of color, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Jarocha-Ernst acknowledges that her congregation is predominantly white.

“There is work for white folks to be doing in this, and that’s why we’ve decided to have a rally,” she said.

"There are some people that are saying (Black Lives Matter) is anti-police, but I really don’t believe that’s true," Jarocha-Ernst added. "There is nothing they say that would indicate that, and that will be a strong message at the rally too — that we are all in this together.”

"We welcome all people who want to understand what Black Lives Matter is about and what we’re about," she said.

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Here is a list of the speakers for the event:

Jennifer Lewinsky, Black Lives Matter Asbury Park.

Rev. Lorna Wilson, Pilgrim Baptist Church.

Rev. Rusty Eidman Hicks, Holmdel Community Church UCC.

Rabbi Marc Kline, Monmouth Reform Temple.

Derek Minno Bloom and Liza Minno Bloom, The Anti-Hunger Project of Trinity Episcopal Church, Asbury Park, and Racial Justice Project of Asbury Park.

Lincroft Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Virginia Jarocha-Ernst, UUCMC.

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Russ Zimmer: 732-557-5748; razimmer@app.com