Contact: Deborah Hamilton, President, Hamilton Strategies, LLC, 610-454-1538, 215-815-7716 cell, DHamilton@HamiltonStrategies.com

ELIZABETH, NJ, April 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- The New Jersey Pastors Association, the Knights of Columbus, The New Jersey Family Policy Council and dozens of area churches and member organizations of the traditional marriage coalition that has been formed last year, are holding a local marriage rally on Saturday, April 28, in Elizabeth, New Jersey from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. in front of the Elizabeth City Hall, located at 50 Winfield Scott Plaza.  Over 1,000 people are expected to be present and residents of Elizabeth and surrounding communities in New Jersey who support marriage between one man and one woman are invited to attend.  Security will be present as protest groups are expected. 

Currently, civil unions are the law in New Jersey but same-sex "marriage" advocates have promised to move legislation in the next two years that will upgrade civil unions to full "marriage."  New Jersey legislators must hear from New Jerseyans to realize that the majority of NJ residents want to keep marriage between one man and one woman.  A petition drive is in full force to petition the New Jersey legislature to protect marriage from radical redefinition.  Petitions will be distributed at the marriage rally and attendees will be able to sign petitions and also take petitions with them to have others sign them. The signatures will be presented to the state legislature, urging them to place this question on the November ballot so that the people can vote on this foundational issue.  Preserving the definition of marriage is vital to preserving free speech, religious freedom and what children are taught in school.

The day's events will include marriage presentations from Assemblyman Michael J. Doherty (R-Washington), the New Jersey Pastors Association, Knights of Columbus, New Jersey Family Policy Council, a music concert, legislative announcements, promotions, balloon release and hearing from individuals and groups that are gathering at this event to affirm their support for marriage to be respected in New Jersey laws and court rulings as a union of only one man and one woman.  Details of the activities of the last year and the coming year and an update on the results of the New Jersey Statewide Official Clergy Petition drive will also be presented.  For more information visit www.njfpc.org or call 1-800-FAMILY-1.