MEDIA ADVISORY–Press Conference—Thurs., 6/27/19

Black & Latino Legislators, Statewide Clergy & Civil Rights Leaders

To Demand Action on Social & Racial Justice Legislation For

Cannabis Decriminalization, Expungement, Youth Justice

WHAT: Black and Latino legislators, civil rights organizers and faith leaders will demonstrate their solidarity in a unified call to action for passage of legislation to end social injustice in New Jersey.  They demand the prioritizing of a package of bills to restore justice to those harmed by a biased and unfair criminal justice system and 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.

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.

In addition to other critical concerns, the assembled leaders will call on lawmakers to enact the following legislation to liberate and empower minority residents:

A-5325 Passage of Recreational Marijuana Bill

S-3205/A-4498 Enactment of Expungement Bill

S-3701/A-5365 Passage of Youth Transformation Act

S-48 Passage of Juvenile Incarceration and Parole Reform Bill

WHERE:            New Jersey State House, 125 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608

Room 103 (across from the Senate Chambers)

WHEN:               10 a.m., Thursday, June 27, 2019

WHO: Participants will include New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Chair Senator Ronald L. Rice and other members such as Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter, Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight and Assemblywoman Britnee N. Timberlake; New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus Chair Senator Nellie Pou and other members including Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano; NAACP Statewide Conference President Richard Smith; Salvation and Social Justice Executive Director Reverend Dr. Charles F.  Boyer; NJ Institute for Social Justice Director of Criminal Justice Reform Andrea McChristian;  Association of Black Women Lawyers Immediate Past President Carolyn Chang; NJ Black Issues Convention Chair Reva Foster; and others. (Participant list subject to change.)