Paul Fishman (US Attorney for the District of New Jersey), Udi Ofer (Executive Director American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey), Chris McNabb (New Jersey Organizer National Religious Campaign Against Torture), and Rabbi Miriam Grossman (The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights), will be part of a discussion titled Racism & Criminal Justice: A Jewish Response at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield on Wednesday, January 6.
Rabbi Rachel Hertzman and Doni Remba will moderate. More on the panel speakers below:
- Paul Fishman – U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey: Appointed by President Obama in 2009, he has, among many achievements, initiated new programs in N.J. to help former federal prisoners better reintegrate into society after release from prison, breaking the “cycle of incarceration.” He spearheaded a three-year Justice Department investigation into the Newark Police Department which found that the NPD engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional practices, chiefly in its use of stop-and-frisk tactics, unwarranted stops and arrests [disproportionately of African-Americans], and discriminatory police actions. That investigation will soon result in a consent decree and the appointment of a federal government monitor.
- Udi Ofer – Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union of N.J.: A civil rights lawyer for more than 14 years, he has overseen many victories including overhauling New Jersey’s broken bail system, banning the use of solitary confinement as punishment of juveniles, creating one of the nation’s strongest police civilian review boards in Newark, and creating an Inspector General’s office to oversee the NYPD.
- Christopher McNabb – New Jersey Organizer, National Religious Campaign Against Torture: A student at Princeton Theological Seminary, he is working to pass the HALT Solitary Confinement Act in the N.J. Legislature, outlawing solitary confinement for many prisoners.
- Miriam Grossman – Rabbinic Intern, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights: Former Community Organizer for the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, winner of JCUA’s 20/20 Award for her work educating Jewish youth about racial and economic injustice. Currently a rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
Racism & Criminal Justice: A Jewish Response
Wednesday, January 6 at 7 pm
Temple Ner Tamid, 936 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ
Free and open to the public