‘Redesign The Police,’ NJ-10 Candidate Says: 2020 Election

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Khaliah Fitchette wants to “build a legacy” in New Jersey’s 10th District. And the bricks and mortar of her campaign include education, police reform and women’s rights.

Fitchette, who is running as an independent candidate this November, is a Newark native who isn’t afraid to use her own life experience as a tool for change.

According to Fitchette, she suffered the effects of police brutality in 2010 when she was a high school student “illegally detained” by the Newark Police Department. After filming a police interaction, she was arrested and detained when she refused to delete the footage. With the support of the American Civil Liberties Union, she launched a lawsuit that eventually resulted in officer training affirming the rights of citizens to record police officers performing their duties.

Now, she’s making the movement to “redesign the police” a central spoke in her campaign platform, which also includes “fixing the public education system” and advocating for women’s rights, Black Lives Matter, the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities and immigration reform. (Learn more about her platform here)

Fitchette is running against incumbent Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who won the Democratic Party nomination in the primary election, and Jennifer Zinone, who captured the Republican Party nomination. She is also facing John Mirrione of the Libertarian Party and Akil Khalfani, who is running as an independent candidate.

New Jersey's 10th Congressional District covers portions of Essex, Hudson and Union counties, including the following municipalities: Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Montclair, Newark, Orange, South Orange, West Orange, Bayonne, Jersey City, Hillside, Linden, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park and Union Township.

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