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Non-profit

Clergy and Laity United for Economic (CLUE) Justice

Website:

www.cluejustice.org/
Location:

LOS ANGELES, CA
Tax ID:

26-4744884
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $770,151
Expenses: $890,448
Assets: $511,574
Executive Director:

Jennifer Gutierrez
Type:

Religious Advocacy Organization
Founded:

2009

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Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE Justice or CLUE) is a religious-oriented advocacy group that supports pro-labor-union causes such as increasing wages of hourly workers, while also campaigning for open immigration to the U.S.

The Anaheim Observer in 2018 described Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice as a “union-funded, left-wing clergy organization that advocates for progressive political priorities.” 1

Background

Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) was co-founded by James Lawson, Jr., who has written that the United States government has been “the number one enemy of peace and justice in the world today.” 2 3 Shakeel Syed, who has worked as the chairman and vice chair of the board, called the U.S. racist in 2018. 4

In October 2016, CLUE joined union activists in protesting then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and Walmart in Buena Park, California. 5 Rabbi Jonathan Klein of CLUE emceed the rally that criticized Trump’s policies and Walmart for importing goods made in foreign countries. 6

CLUE partners with the labor union Unite Here, which represents about 300,000 members in the hotel, food service, laundry, and casino-gambling industries. 7

CLUE has chapters in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles County in California that are set up as separate nonprofits. 8

Immigration

Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice has advocated sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. 9 CLUE has sponsored events that train people how to join the sanctuary movement. 10

In 2007, CLUE asked churches, synagogues, and mosques to provide refuge to undocumented immigrants. 11

In April 2017, CLUE participated in a protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement over its treatment of undocumented immigrants, and more than 30 people were arrested. 12

Controversy

Rabbi Jonathan Klein resigned as executive director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice in 2018 after allegations of sexual harassment and workplace abuse, according to the Jewish Journal. 13 Klein did not provide a reason for his resignation to the Journal, but said he did nothing wrong and board members said the allegations were untrue. Klein said an investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing. 14

The Jewish Journal interviewed seven current or former employees of CLUE who alleged that Klein committed a pattern of sexual and workplace harassment. 15 The CLUE workers stated Klein was inappropriately withholding pay, constantly threatening job security, making employees work too much, making inappropriate sexual comments, and inappropriately touching the breasts and thighs of female employees. 16 The Jewish Journal called Klein “the organization’s face and voice.” 17

James Lawson Jr.

James Lawson Jr. co-founded Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. 18 Lawson was a figure in the civil-rights movement and was cited by Martin Luther King Jr. in a 1968 speech. 19 Former President Barack Obama has said that Lawson inspired him to become an activist. 20

Lawson was imprisoned in 1951 for not registering for the draft and was granted parole in 1952. 21

Lawson has referred to the U.S. economy as “plantation capitalism.” 22 The David Horowitz Freedom Center’s Discover the Networks stated that Lawson said in a 2001 lecture that the United States “has become the number one enemy of peace and justice in the world today”; 23  Lawson made a similar claim in a 2007 article. 24

Leadership

Jennifer Gutierrez became executive director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice in June 2022. 25 Gutierrez is an ordained United Methodist minister and was executive director of the Los Angeles United Methodist Museum of Social Justice. 26 Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and the museum partnered on an exhibit in June 2021 called “New Black City: A World Without Police” with a goal to “amplify the movement’s policy demand” to take back the billions of dollars that the groups claim that law enforcement “drain from Black communities.” 27

Ali Tweini is a director on the board and is on the executive board of Teamsters Local 2010 and also works as the political coordinator for the union. 28

Guillermo Torres is the immigration program director for CLUE. 29 He was the lead organizer for a campaign to raise the minimum wage in Long Beach, California, and started a campaign to organize Flying Food workers at the Los Angeles International Airport. 30

Shakeel Syed has served as the chairman and vice chair of the board. Syed posted in July 2018 on Twitter that America was racist. 31

Finances

Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice had $763,520 in total revenues in 2019 and $755,045 in total expenses. CLUE’s total assets were $622,521 in 2019. 32 The highest paid employee in 2019 was Guillermo Torres, who made $64,990 as the program director. 33

References

  1. Matthew Cunningham. “OCCORD Executive Director Shakeel Syed Calls America ‘Racist’”; Anaheim Observer. Aug. 8, 2018. Accessed Nov. 26, 2022. https://www.anaheimobserver.com/2018/08/08/occord-executive-director-shakeel-syed-calls-america-racist/
  2. Lawson, James. “A Nation Faces Its Own ‘Terrible Alternatives.’” Reflections. Yale University, 2007. https://reflections.yale.edu/article/faith-and-citizenship-turbulent-times/nation-faces-its-own-terrible-alternatives.
  3. Discover The Networks. Rev. James Lawson. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individuals/rev-james-lawson
  4. Matthew Cunningham. “OCCORD Executive Director Shakeel Syed Calls America ‘Racist’”; Anaheim Observer. Aug. 8, 2018. Accessed Nov. 26, 2022. https://www.anaheimobserver.com/2018/08/08/occord-executive-director-shakeel-syed-calls-america-racist/
  5. Gabriel San Roman. “Union Activists Picket Trump And Walmart’s Shared Values In Buena Park” OC Weekly. Oct. 28, 2016. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://www.ocweekly.com/union-activists-picket-trump-and-walmarts-shared-values-in-buena-park-7628599-2/
  6. Gabriel San Roman. “Union Activists Picket Trump And Walmart’s Shared Values In Buena Park” OC Weekly. Oct. 28, 2016. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://www.ocweekly.com/union-activists-picket-trump-and-walmarts-shared-values-in-buena-park-7628599-2/
  7. Clergy And Laity United For Economic Justice. Unite Here Local 11. Accessed Nov. 28, 2022. https://www.cluejustice.org/tag/unite-here-local-11/
  8. ProPublica. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=clergy+and+laity+united&state%5Bid%5D=&ntee%5Bid%5D=&c_code%5Bid%5D=
  9. Ventura County Star. “Providing Sanctuary To Be Forum Topic”; Oct. 20, 2008. Accessed Nov. 28, 2022.
  10. Ventura County Star. “Providing Sanctuary To Be Forum Topic”; Oct. 20, 2008. Accessed Nov. 28, 2022.
  11. Louis Sahagun. “Churches May Offer Sanctuary To Illegal Immigrants In U.S.”; Los Angeles Times. March 23, 2007. Accessed Nov. 28, 2022.
  12. Ryan Torok. “L.A. Rabbis Arrested At ICE Protest”; Jewish Journal. April 13, 2017. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://jewishjournal.com/los_angeles/217897/ice-protest-l-leads-arrests/
  13. Kelly Hartog. “Rabbi Leaves CLUE Amid Allegations Of Abuse; Calls Allegations ‘False’”; Jewish Journal. Nov. 20, 2018. Accessed Nov. 29, 2022. https://jewishjournal.com/community/242351/rabbi-leaves-clue-amid-allegations-abuse-calls-allegations-false/
  14. Kelly Hartog. “Rabbi Leaves CLUE Amid Allegations Of Abuse; Calls Allegations ‘False’”; Jewish Journal. Nov. 20, 2018. Accessed Nov. 29, 2022. https://jewishjournal.com/community/242351/rabbi-leaves-clue-amid-allegations-abuse-calls-allegations-false/
  15. Kelly Hartog. “Rabbi Leaves CLUE Amid Allegations Of Abuse; Calls Allegations ‘False’”; Jewish Journal. Nov. 20, 2018. Accessed Nov. 29, 2022. https://jewishjournal.com/community/242351/rabbi-leaves-clue-amid-allegations-abuse-calls-allegations-false/
  16. Kelly Hartog. “Rabbi Leaves CLUE Amid Allegations Of Abuse; Calls Allegations ‘False’”; Jewish Journal. Nov. 20, 2018. Accessed Nov. 29, 2022. https://jewishjournal.com/community/242351/rabbi-leaves-clue-amid-allegations-abuse-calls-allegations-false/
  17. Kelly Hartog. “Rabbi Leaves CLUE Amid Allegations Of Abuse; Calls Allegations ‘False’”; Jewish Journal. Nov. 20, 2018. Accessed Nov. 29, 2022. https://jewishjournal.com/community/242351/rabbi-leaves-clue-amid-allegations-abuse-calls-allegations-false/
  18. Ken Wong. “Celebrating Reverend Lawson’s Enduring Contributions At UCLA”; UCLA College Social Science. Archived from the original Oct. 3, 2018. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220721033705/https://irle.ucla.edu/2018/10/05/celebrating-reverend-lawsons-enduring-contributions-at-ucla/
  19. The Martin Luther King Jr. Research And Education Institute. James M. Lawson. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/lawson-james-m
  20. Peter Dreier. “The Nonviolent Activist Who Mentored John Lewis”; The Progressive Magazine. Aug. 12, 2020. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://progressive.org/latest/activist-mentored-john-lewis-dreier-200812/
  21. The Martin Luther King Jr. Research And Education Institute. James M. Lawson. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/lawson-james-m
  22. Peter Dreier. “The Nonviolent Activist Who Mentored John Lewis”; The Progressive Magazine. Aug. 12, 2020. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://progressive.org/latest/activist-mentored-john-lewis-dreier-200812/
  23. Discover The Networks. Rev. James Lawson. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individuals/rev-james-lawson
  24. Lawson, James. “A Nation Faces Its Own ‘Terrible Alternatives.’” Reflections. Yale University, 2007. https://reflections.yale.edu/article/faith-and-citizenship-turbulent-times/nation-faces-its-own-terrible-alternatives.
  25. California-Pacific Conference. “New Executive Director Of Clergy And Laity United For Economic Justice (CLUE)”; July 4, 2022. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://www.calpacumc.org/news/new-executive-director-of-clergy-and-laity-united-for-economic-justice-clue/
  26. California-Pacific Conference. “New Executive Director Of Clergy And Laity United For Economic Justice (CLUE)”; July 4, 2022. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://www.calpacumc.org/news/new-executive-director-of-clergy-and-laity-united-for-economic-justice-clue/
  27. Los Angeles United Methodist Museum Of Social Justice. New Black City: A World Without Police. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://www.museumofsocialjustice.org/new-black-city.html
  28. San Gabriel Valley Civic Alliance. Board Of Directors. Accessed Nov. 26, 2022. https://www.sgvca.org/board-of-directors?lightbox=dataItem-jby7r4qs5
  29. Clergy And Laity United For Economic Justice. Staff. Accessed Nov. 26, 2022. https://cluela.nationbuilder.com/staff
  30. Clergy And Laity United For Economic Justice. Staff. Accessed Nov. 26, 2022. https://cluela.nationbuilder.com/staff
  31. Matthew Cunningham. “OCCORD Executive Director Shakeel Syed Calls America ‘Racist’”; Anaheim Observer. Aug. 8, 2018. Accessed Nov. 26, 2022. https://www.anaheimobserver.com/2018/08/08/occord-executive-director-shakeel-syed-calls-america-racist/
  32. Clergy And Laity United For Economic Justice. Form 990. Part 1 Summary. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/26-4744884
  33. Clergy And Laity United For Economic Justice. Form 990. Part 7. Compensation Of Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, Highest Compensated Employees, And Independent Contractors. Accessed Nov. 27, 2022. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/26-4744884
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: November 1, 2009

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $770,151 $890,448 $511,574 $64,295 N $797,589 $0 $367 $77,075
    2019 Dec Form 990 $763,520 $755,045 $622,521 $54,945 N $676,505 $0 $0 $139,902 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $786,044 $983,829 $682,757 $105,653 N $656,918 $0 $1,222 $137,892 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $1,012,839 $960,180 $350,100 $15,453 N $893,101 $0 $0 $112,099 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $709,703 $684,188 $297,440 $15,452 N $591,317 $0 $0 $150,572 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $566,065 $625,150 $321,925 $15,452 N $477,703 $0 $0 $170,626 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $663,931 $625,049 $381,011 $15,453 N $574,954 $0 $0 $140,632 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $636,369 $552,852 $342,128 $15,452 N $569,090 $0 $0 $140,582 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $525,460 $511,708 $276,676 $33,517 N $439,038 $0 $0 $136,674 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $500,771 $389,418 $230,712 $453 N $453,333 $0 $60 $135,790 PDF
    2010 Dec Form 990 $440,279 $321,373 $118,906 $0 N $440,279 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Clergy and Laity United for Economic (CLUE) Justice

    464 LUCAS AVE STE 202
    LOS ANGELES, CA 90017-2074