Black Lives Matter

Black and Brown people are disproportionately targeted by the police. The call to action in this moment is to defund and reimagine policing due to the recent and ongoing string of murders of Black people in this country.

What does this have to do with Livingston?

Livingston is where we grew up, where we have memories of bike riding to the pool, walking to the library to study, playing at school playgrounds.

The issue?

Livingston was red lined, meaning that Black people were legally denied mortgages for houses in our town for decades. This is true for all suburbs in the United States that had a big period of growth between the 1930s and 1950s. The legacy of red-lining is obvious when you notice how segregated Essex County is. Think about how in less than 15 minutes in the car you are in a predominantly Black neighborhood. The Oranges. Newark. Irvington. Elizabeth. This is policy and practice. Segregation. Inequity. It was built like this. Systemic racism has sunk its roots into the soil of this town and county.

and now it is way past due to but TIME to stand up for what is right. How?

Livingston! Stand up, open your wallets, your purses, and DONATE.

Talk to your family.

Attend protests.

Write to your elected officials.

Sign petitions.

Stand up. Fight back.