From Protest to Policy: A Black Prophetic Response to NJ Policing

Salvation and Social Justice (SandSJ) is always committed to the liberation of people from all unjust powers, however, during the coming weeks and months, we will have an acute focus on “Protest to Policy: Decriminalizing, Decarcerating, and Dismantling the Powers.” We are once again witnessing the power of protests throughout this country and the state of New Jersey. Protests are the necessary spirit of awakening that creates an environment in which policymakers must respond.

In the spirit of moving protests to actual policy changes, SandSJ is working with our communities to: 1. Dismantle police brutality, 2. Decarcerate the most vulnerable during this pandemic and 3. Decriminalize and eliminate discriminatory cannabis policies. As we march into Juneteenth 2020, SandSJ is hosting the first of many town halls (via zoom) that will uplift the aforementioned initiatives. This town hall is on Thursday, June 18^th and titled “From Protest to Policy: A Black Prophetic Response to NJ Policing.” #FromProtestToPolicy

WHY: Several weeks of protest in the wake of George Floyd’s murder has fundamentally transformed the movement for Black Lives. Furthermore, the fatal shooting of Maurice Gordon, the disturbing findings in the Force Report, and most recently the Comptroller’s report on state police, reminds us that these issues are present at home. There has been an awakening around the wicked insidious spiritual nature of structural racism, especially in militarized and unaccountable policing. Therefore, our response is to prophetically demand meaningful policy change to abolish abusive policing here in New Jersey.

WHAT: “From Protest to Policy: A Black Prophetic Response to NJ Policing” town hall (via zoom) to demand meaningful policy change and abolish abusive policing in New Jersey. During this town hall, the Rev. Timothy Levi-Adkins Jones will give a Black theological framing of the moment; State Senator Troy Singleton and Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter will present concrete policy work being done by the Black legislative caucus; and Dena Mottola Jaborska from New Jersey Citizen Action will give concrete supportive roles non-Black progressive organizations can play as allies in this movement.

WHERE: Online webinar. Register HERE: http://event.sandsj.org/Protest2Policy

WHEN: Thursday, June 18, 2020 from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

WHO: 

State Senator Troy Singleton

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter

Rev. Timothy Levi-Adkins Jones, Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church

Dena Mottola Jaborska, Associate Director, New Jersey Citizen Action

HOST: Zoom town hall organized by Salvation and Social Justice

Salvation and Social Justice seeks to liberate public policy theologically by building Black faith-rooted communication strategies, advocacy, and public education campaigns, to lift up poor, underserved, and traditionally oppressed communities with a particular focus on racial justice through abolition, restoration, transformation, and coalition.