Charles Boyer, Richard Smith join NJ Social, Racial Justice Rally
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By AC JosepH Media
TRENTON — South Jersey’s Rev. Charles Boyer and Richard T. Smith, who serves as the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, will participate in a statewide clergy and civil right rally to demand action social and racial justice legislation at the New Jersey Statehouse Thursday, June 27.
The group of African-American and Latino leaders are demanding the state legislators prioritize a package of bills to restore justice to those harmed by what it calls a “biased and unfair” justice system and past failed policies.
“Regardless of their previous stance on the now defunct marijuana legalization bill, Black and Latino leaders are united in their unwavering support for decriminalization as a long-sought remedy for rampant injustice in our state court system,” a statement released this week by the Salvation and Social Justice, led by Boyer, said this week.
“New Jersey has the worst adult and youth incarceration racial disparities in the nation, mostly due to disproportionally enforced drug policies and anemic investments in community-based youth alternatives,” the statement continued.
Along with Boyer and Smith, those attending the rally includes: New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus chair Sen. Ronald L. Rice; Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham, Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter, Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, Assemblywoman Britnee N. Timberlake; New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus chair Sen. Nellie Pou, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano; N.J. Institute for Social Justice Andrea McChristian, director of Criminal Justice Reform; Association of Black Women Lawyers immediate past president Carolyn Chang; and N.J.. Black Issues Convention chair Reva Foster.
Leaders are also calling on the legislator to focus on specific bill, like the Decriminalization of Marijuana Bill in the Senate; S-3205/A-4498 Enactment of Expungement Bill by Gov. Phil Murphy; S-3701/A-5365 Passage of Youth Transformation Act in the Senate and General Assembly; and S-48/A5586 Passage of Juvenile Incarceration and Parole Reform Bill by the Senate.
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