Activists gather in Newark to urge Booker to support Iran deal

NEWARK - A group of activists delivered a petition of 15,000 signatures to urge Sen. Cory Booker Wednesday to support a controversial agreement that would end Iran's nuclear program.

The group of around 50 gathered outside the One Gateway Center building in downtown Newark to hold a brief rally, espousing their support for the deal, which is currently awaiting a vote from both Congress and the U.S. Senate.

Opponents claim the agreement does not provide adequate guarantees that Iran will dismantle its nuclear infrastructure and could allow the country to quickly build a bomb once it expires after 10 years. Supporters have countered that monitoring and inspections will remain in place long after that, and failure to approve it could cause other countries to revoke economic sanctions against Iran if the U.S. walks away from a deal they helped negotiate.

"It will look really bad and sad for America - the big nation, the strong nation - saying no and being singled out," said Ilse Blyse, an 80-year-old German native now living in Maplewood who attended Wednesday's rally.

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As a vote in Washington moves closer, legislators such as Booker who have yet to make a decision are being heavily lobbied by officials and constituents on either side of the issue. Booker (D-N.J.) is currently one of 15 undecided Democratic senators, a group that could ultimately make or break the deal.

Earlier this week, Gov. Chris Christie said he would personally appeal to Booker to oppose the agreement.

In a statement, Booker's office said he had been brief on the latest government intelligence and consulted with independent experts and constituents as he continues to mull whether to support the deal, and would not be swayed by "political pressure, lobbying, or theatrics."

"The question of how best to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is as complicated as it is serious, and Senator Booker will continue to devote himself to determining the path forward that will best ensure America's security and that of our allies," the statement said.

Paul Surovell, who helped organize the Wednesday rally, said he was anxiously awaiting Booker's decision, though he understood his inclination to carefully consider all sides before weighing in.

"I just hope that he is listening to the arguments in favor, because I think they clearly outweigh the arguments against," he said. "His vote, in a sense, because he's waited so long, becomes all the more important."

The petition was also delivered to the neighboring office of Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.). The senior senator has already voiced his opposition to the deal, making him just one of two Democratic senators to do so.

Steven Sandberg, a spokesman for Menendez, confirmed that the petition was delivered, and referred a reporter to the senator's Aug. 18 speech outlining his position. During that address, he said the agreement "requires no dismantling of Iran's nuclear infrastructure and only mothballs that infrastructure for 10 years."

A similar petition, signed entirely by New Jerseyans, was set to be delivered at Booker's Camden office. Other groups were planning actions at more than 200 other legislative offices around the country as part of an effort organized by MoveOn.org to galvanize support for the deal.

Among New Jersey's Congressional delegation, only Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th Dist.) and Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-9th Dist.) remain on the fence. Donald Norcross (D-1st Dist.) and Albio Sires (D-8th Dist.) have announced their opposition to the agreement, as have all six House Republicans from the state.

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-10th Dist.) is the state's lone Democratic Congressman to have declared himself in support.

Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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