PRESS ROOM: Moving FORWARD in the Era of COVID-19: The Pursuit of Fair and Equitable Criminal Justice Policy

News Provided By Neighborhood FORWARD

Neighborhood FORWARD is a movement built by concerned citizens, faith leaders, civil rights activists, elected officials, business partners, and non-profit organizations throughout the country.

On Thursday, July 30th, Neighborhood FORWARD hosted faith leaders and civil rights activists from Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago for a discussion about the challenges facing Black and Brown communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Discussion focused on recently introduced policy and the unintended consequences associated with it, specifically California Senate Bill 793, which would ban the sale of vapor products in flavors other than tobacco.

The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in the California State Senate on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 2:00 PM (Pacific Time) in the Assembly Committee on Health (Remote-Attendance Details TBA).

WHO:

• Rev. K.W. Tulloss, Weller Street Missionary Baptist Church, President of Baptist Ministers Conference Southern California, and Co-Founder of Neighborhood FORWARD
• Former U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek, *Moderator
• Dr. Amos Brown, Pastor, Third Baptist Church of San Francisco
• Dr. Jody Armour, Professor of Law, University of Southern California *Invited guest
• Elder, Joe Paul, City of Refuge UCC
• Rev. William Smart, President and CEO, Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California
• Rev. Walter Amir Jones, Executive Director, Westside Community Stakeholders
• Lt. Corey Pegues, NYPD (Retired)
• Gio Galarza, Executive Director, I Love Homeless LA
• Thea Williams, President, L.A. Black Pride
• Roz Renfro, Vice President, L.A. Black Pride

The pace of change in the United States has reached levels that are nearly unprecedented. While the visibility around issues related to social, economic, and political justice has been steadily expanding over the past several years, recent events in Minneapolis and elsewhere in the country have transformed the viewpoints of millions of Americans. In many respects, this trend has already begun to reshape mainstream values in significant ways as corporations, governmental agencies, and elected officials reconsider long-held practices that have produced discriminatory outcomes.

During the panel discussion Black and Brown leaders from across the country discussed the pursuit of fair and equitable criminal justice policy and more.

For more information,, visit the Neighborhood FORWARD website