Rev. Charles Boyer's quest for justice may have begun with the frequent traffic stops he suffered as a young man crossing the border from Plainfield into one of its suburban neighbor towns. Other than some overnight stays in holding cells, he escaped the fate of many other young black men - prison, where he told an audience Tuesday there are more blacks now than were enslaved in 1850.
"It's the civil rights issue of our day," he said.
Boyer, pastor of St. James AME Church in Somerset, was among speakers at a "Decarcerate the Garden State" event aimed to encourage both awareness and action on the plight of prisoners. He cited racial disparities in drug arrests and harsh sentences to keep prisons full, so companies that furnish food, clothing and transportation could profit in what he called "a multi-billion industry." African-Americans are only 13 percent of the general population, but 50 percent of the prison population, he said.
Sabrina Lytlleton, a co-founder of Keeping Youth and Streets Safe in Plainfield, said she wants to keep her son, 4, from entering the "school-to-prison pipeline."
Schools nowadays resemble detention centers, with armed police officers, metal detectors and uniform-like dress codes, she said. To young people she said, "Why should you get involved? It's your responsibility to yourself."
Steven Hatcher of People's Organization for Progress took issue with church members whose only response to the issue was prayer, and in comments from the audience, two speakers agreed. Boyer also agreed, calling on the church to be both "prophetic and priestly." When Moses said, "Let my people go," he was being prophetic, Boyer said.
"Moses did the prophetic first and then he gave the law."
Father Gideon Uzomechina of Grace Episcopal Church said in his prison ministry he finds young people are lacking love.
"That's why we have the gang issue," he said.
Mark Williams, president of the board at First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, warned that decarceration "brings on problems itself," and said the church will hold an expungement workshop on March 21. Former inmates have a better chance at employment with recent legislation banning questions on criminal background early in interviews, but expungement clears a person's record.
Bob Witanek, leader of DecarcerateNJ, called on those present to sign a petition, join the group, contact state and local legislators, and take part in upcoming events and demonstrations. The group's outreach includes print and online newspapers and various forms of social media.
The evening included many other announcements of rallies, marches and discussions. David Rutherford recorded the event for his Plainfield View blog, so check it for postings later.
--Bernice
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The business model, north jersey the product and south jersey the warehouse and the politicans and businessmen laugh all the way to the bank. At least I can say Fulop in jersey city. Is trying to do something proactive but even he has a personal agenda. But kudos to the folks who put on this forum. But realize its gonna get worse before better. What is needed is a complete total new paradigm. The local economy in Cumberland and Gloucester county depends on a pipeline of convicts to fill the prisons in south jersey so that they have jobs. And those jobs produce dollars that they spend locally. The bottom line is economics the love of money is the root of all evil. I say the lack of it is the root of most crime. Lets work together to save those who desire to be saved and pray the rest because the worst is yet to come. Mr. X
ReplyDeleteAlthough race undoubtedly plays into the unfortunate statistics as they relate to the disproportionate incarceration of African-American men, those who advocate on this matter are remiss in acknowledging a variety of other factors which perpetuate vicious cycles in troubled communities, African-American or otherwise, that have nothing to do with race.
ReplyDeleteIt can be very easy to blame others for one’s troubles and point fingers at our nemesis; however, when do community leaders along with individuals/groups/communities take ownership of their woes, acknowledge that the root of the problem is bigger than race, and work to fix problems they can control – like advocating education, encouraging self-respect and discipline, and guiding our youth and young adults to make decisions that enable and create success. There may be a great deal of African-American men in our prisons but there is also a great deal of successful African-American men and women in business, education, entertainment and sports. It’s not all bad, all the time.
There are many in our community who encourage divisiveness through their words and actions in public forums, in private conversations and in their writings, all of which perpetuate the vicious cycle of ignorance, hate, anger and resentment which likely leads to more negative, than positive, outcomes.
When we, as a society, are able to have open and honest conversations and are able to hold ourselves accountable, then we just might move forward.
If we don’t respect ourselves, why should we expect others to respect us?