New Jersey Freeholders Say: The Time Has Come

New Jersey Black county elected officials who are currently known as ‘Freeholders’ stand united to remove this term from the state’s governmental and political lexicon.  We established an alliance that will address key issues and needs of black communities within our counties and state.

“The origin of the title runs afoul of the ideals for equality and the fulfillment of human potential for all people.  We join many, who condemn the centuries-old state law that was born out of a period in which exclusivity, misogyny, racism and privilege reigned.  As that period of our history has ended, so too must the title ‘Freeholder’ come to an end.”

“As the opposition may argue, changing the name is indeed symbolic.  The change itself symbolizes who we are and what we believe in as a people.  Not only is New Jersey the last, and only state to use this offensive term, but we must not forget that our state was also the last of the northern states to abolish slavery. Making the change right now is a symbol of our evolution. Resistance to this important change is a symbol that there is a dismissal of the role that symbolic acts have played in making historic, systemic change. This sentiment has no room among our political landscape.”

“That said, every effort made by the Governor, Lt. Governor, Senate President (the latter two are both former freeholders), the Assembly Speaker and the many other elected officials and supporters of this change is invaluable.  Any attempt to make this issue a ‘political football’ against the Governor is an insult and ignores the incredible impact of this moment. Removing the offensive and outdated term of ‘Freeholder’ is one big step in the right direction. The time has come to do what is right.”

Signed,

New Jersey’s 19 Black Freeholders

Kenneth Armwood, Freeholder Deputy Director, Middlesex County
Ashley R. Bennett, Freeholder, Atlantic County
T.J. Best, Freeholder, Passaic County
Tyshammie L. Cooper, Freeholder, Essex County
Ernest D. Coursey, Freeholder, Atlantic County
Samuel T. Frisby Sr., Vice Chairman, Mercer County
Angela R. Garretson, Freeholder, Union County
Romaine Graham, Freeholder, Essex County
Barbara Holcomb, Freeholder, Camden County
Felicia Hopson, Freeholder Director, Burlington County
Jim Jefferson, Freeholder, Gloucester County
Rufus I. Johnson, Freeholder, Essex County
Wayne L. Richardson, Freeholder Vice-President, Essex County
Shanel Y. Robinson, Freeholder Director, Somerset County
Andrea Staten, Freeholder, Union County
Jack Surrency, Freeholder, Cumberland
Jerry Walker, Freeholder, Hudson County
Rebecca Williams, Freeholder, Union County
Jonathan L. Young, Sr., Freeholder, Camden County