Tonight: ‘Jews for Black Lives Action & Vigil’ To Call For Police Reform

The organization Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) will hold a rally this evening (Thursday, July 28) which will begin at 7pm in front of the Barclays Center. The rally will then proceed down Atlantic Avenue towards Brooklyn Heights. The march will culminate in front of the Brooklyn Detention Complex at 275 Atlantic Avenue, where mourners plan to light Yarzheit candles for those lost to police violence.

According to JFREJ, the goal of the rally is to “hold a vigil to memorialize victims of police violence and demand legislative reforms be passed by City Council.” The organization will be joined by Black and Jewish leaders as well as other Jews of Color.

JFREF says they firmly supports the passage of the Right To Know Act, “together with over 200 organizations and a majority of New York City council members.”

“We have the majority of the council signed on,” says JFREJ Member Leader Jason Salmon, who serves as the Liaison to Communities United for Police Reform. “We expect that those bills be brought to the floor for a vote.”

The Right to Know Act is composed of two primary components: “Requiring NYPD officers to identify themselves” (Intro 182) and “Protecting New Yorkers against unconstitutional searches” (Intro 541).

“We don’t want the police policing themselves anymore,” Salmon told the Park Slope Stoop.

“We demand that New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito stop blocking the bills and that the City Council pass the Right to Know Act to protect New Yorkers from police abuses and advance police accountability,” writes the JFREJ.

“The main thing for us as Jews is that we have so much diversity,” says Salmon. “We have Black Jews and Jews of Color who are being directly affected by discriminatory policing. As a community we must stand by them and Black lives in general.”

According to Salmon, local council members Laurie Cumbo, Brad Lander, and Stephen Levin all support the passing of the bill.

JFREJ plans to hold actions for the next two Thursday nights – part of a “month of action” which will lead up to the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’av, an annual fast day commemorating tragedies to Jewish communities throughout history.

The Rally Rundown: Vigil and Action to Demand Police Accountability, organized by Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)
When: Thursday, July 28 beginning at 7pm
Where: The event begins at Barclays Center and will proceed down Atlantic Avenue towards Brooklyn Heights
More information:  Upcoming events may be found here.