Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex)
Assemblywoman BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblyman JAMEL C. HOLLEY
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Tully, Assemblywomen Lopez, Vainieri Huttle, Assemblyman McKeon, Assemblywoman Swain and Assemblyman Kennedy
SYNOPSIS
Designates July 13th as “Black Lives Matter Day” in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating July 13th of each year as “Black Lives Matter Day” in New Jersey.
Whereas, In response to both current and historically disparate treatment of Black people, a movement arose to assert that “Black Lives Matter;” and
Whereas, The movement began as a social media hashtag in 2013, and expanded into a national movement; and
Whereas, Freedom Fighters around the globe commemorate July 13th as the day three Black women, Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometti, turned the Black Lives Matter hashtag into a global movement; and
Whereas, The Black Lives Matter movement affirms the humanity and resilience of Black Americans in the face of deadly oppression, and seeks to highlight the importance of Black lives through activism in a system that has historically displayed and proved that Black lives do not matter; and
Whereas, The movement is a growing network of individuals, families, and businesses invested in the deactivation of systemic racism endured by all people of color; and
Whereas, The movement has gained international attention specifically after being highlighted and acknowledged on a larger scale in 2020 following the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd – all Black lives that were taken unjustly; and
Whereas, According to the 2017 Police Violence Report, more than 25 percent of the people killed in America by police were Black Americans, even though they constitute approximately only 13 percent of the nation’s population; and
Whereas, This Legislature acknowledges the problems that Black New Jerseyans encounter with police and other public safety officials; and
Whereas, This Legislature recognizes the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States and New Jersey’s communities; and
Whereas, This Legislature supports the understandings and affirmations that underlie the Black Lives Matter movement, and seeks to address institutionalized racism; and
Whereas, In support of the Black Lives Matter movement, this Legislature supports the coming together to proclaim a day of action, affirmation, and solidarity, to be called, “Black Lives Matter Day;” and
Whereas,
The purpose of the day will be to commemorate collective, Statewide efforts to
recognize the message behind the movement including its purpose in combatting
systematic racism and violence against Black people; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. July 13th of each year is designated as “Black Lives Matter Day” in New Jersey to commemorate collective, Statewide efforts to recognize the movement and its purpose to combat systematic racism and violence against Black people.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe “Black Lives Matter Day” with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates July 13th of each year as “Black Lives Matter Day” in New Jersey.
In response to both current and historically disparate treatment of Black people, a nationwide movement arose to assert that “Black Lives Matter.” The movement began as a social media hashtag in 2013. Freedom Fighters around the globe commemorate July 13th as the day three Black women, Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometti, turned the hashtag into a global movement.
The movement has gained international attention specifically after being highlighted and acknowledged on a larger scale following the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd – all Black people whose lives were taken unjustly.
The Black Lives Matter movement affirms the humanity and resilience of Black Americans in the face of deadly oppression, and seeks to highlight the importance of Black lives through activism in a system that has historically displayed and proved that Black lives do not matter.
According to the 2017 Police Violence Report, more than 25 percent of the people killed in America by police were Black Americans, even though they constitute approximately only 13 percent of the nation’s population. This Legislature acknowledges the problems that Black New Jerseyans encounter with police and other public safety officials. This Legislature recognizes the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States and New Jersey’s communities.
In support of the movement, New Jersey should come together to proclaim a day of action, affirmation, and solidarity, to be called, “Black Lives Matter Day.” The day will be set to commemorate collective, Statewide efforts to recognize the movement and its purpose in combatting systematic racism and violence against Black people.