In a letter to the editor, HudPost publisher and North Bergen resident James de los Santos lays out three ways the township can be a part of to fight racial injustice.

Dear Editor,

The global Black Lives Matter movement is the largest civil rights movement the world has ever seen.

The North Bergen BLM rally on June 6th, 2020 was likely the largest grassroots demonstration this township has ever witnessed.

While many cities and police departments have responded in ways to answer the demands of their people, it is time for our officials to do the same.

Today, our leaders must take action to pass meaningful legislation and resolutions to build towards a more just society.

1. Abolish Slavery Amend the 13th

Recently, Hoboken and Jersey City passed resolutions backing ACR 145. We must hold our board of commissioners to the same standard and call for them to make amending the 13th a concerted county-wide effort.

Our state senator and assembly people need to support the state legislation to Abolish Slavery in New Jersey by endorsing a bill being proposed by the Legislative Black Caucus of New Jersey and sponsored by Senator Ron Rice and Assemblywoman Angela McKnight.

ACR 145 proposes to add language to our state constitution, permanently abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude, including as punishment for a crime.

As a state amendment, this measure would go to the ballot in November of this year. This means the people will be allowed to take action at the ballot box and carry this over the finish line.

Currently, the United States has 5% of the worlds population, but 25% of the worlds prisoners. In Hudson County, Blacks and Latinos makeup 40% of the population but are at the 80th percentile inside of our county prison facilities.

When the 13th Amendment was passed ending slavery in the country, the clause except as a punishment for crime was included allowing our judicial court to systematically oppress people of color.

This clause led to the Jim-Crow era where our criminal justice system and corporate retailers have exploited the 13th amendment clause by way of slave wage prison labor and for-profit prisons.

2. 8 Cant Wait

Our police department should immediately adopt the policies of 8 Cant Wait. The initiative is a set of policies introduced by Campaign Zero.

The policies call for: ban on chokeholds and strangleholds, require active de-escalation tactics during all interactions, require warning before shooting, exhaust all alternatives before discharging a weapon, duty to intervene, ban on shooting at moving vehicles, require the use of force continuum, as well as require comprehensive reporting.

Most of these policies have been implemented by the New Jersey Attorney General, which prohibits the North Bergen Police Department from failing to enact these changes.

With the help of our department, we can drive this initiative forward in its entirety.

3. Mandate the Inclusion of Black History in High School Curricula

Our Board of Education must immediately implement a mandated Black History course in North Bergen High School curricula beginning no later than the 2022 academic year.

A petition started by recent North Bergen High School graduate, Izabella Lima, received over 600 signatures from classmates, teachers, and alumni demanding North Bergen High School require a meaningful and thoughtfully curated African-American history course for all students

History will ask what we did during these unprecedented times and we must rise to the call for justice for all.

Take Action Today

Contact your local officials and urge them to support these policies

1. Abolish Slavery

State Representatives

State Senator Nicholas Sacco (201) 295-0200

State Assemblyman Pedro Mejia (201) 770-1303

State Assemblywoman Angelica Jiminez (201) 223-4247

North Bergen Board of Commissioners

Nicholas Sacco (201) 392-2005

Hugo Cabrera (201) 392-2062

Allen Pascual (201) 392-2031

Frank Garguilo (201) 392-2161

Julio Marenco (201) 392-2012

2. Implement Black History Course

George J. Solter, Superintendent of Schools (201) 295-2706

North Bergen Board of Education (201) 868-1000

Patricia Bartoli, Board President

Claudia Rodriguez, Vice President

Claudia Baselice

Luis Diaz

Haissam Jaafar

Kanaiyalal Patel

Luis Rabelo

Sai Rao

Ruth Shaw

3. 8 Cant Wait

Police Chief Peter Fasilis (201) 392-2100

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LETTER: Here are 3 initiatives North Bergen can be a part of to fight racial injustice - Hudson County View