Empowering Legal Solutions

2020 is a year for the record books. We are only in June and it looks like years have gone by, so much has changed, most have been out of our control: the tragic loss of ‘The Black Mamba’ Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant, the global pandemic of the novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), lockdowns and stay-at-home orders throughout the world, one more senseless death at the hands of the Police, and a nation banning together to say NO to Injustice. This year has also presented unique opportunities to exercise resilience, patience, wisdom and a deeper understanding of one another. This day has presented an opportunity for self-reflection within our circle of family, friends, neighbors, community and fellow patriots. Wouldn’t you agree? 

We, Americans, are confronting several crises simultaneously what we know for sure is that collective America has always pursued progress. I believe we will continue to do so and together introduce news laws and referendums that will bring an end to police brutality, discrimination, inequality once and for all; not next year, not in the next lifetime but now, today in the midst of this pandemic. Victory against police brutality, discrimination, inequality will be victory for all Americans: White, Black, Yellow, Green, the Young, the Old, the Rich man and the Poor; from sea to shining sea. 

How do you react to a global pandemic? How do you react to systematic injustice? How do we come together and have a constructive dialogue around injustice? How do we encourage our local leaders, judges and legislators to enact laws and protections that allow all Americans to actually be “safe”? How do we foster healing and effectuate change with each other for each other in love and understanding? 

In the days and weeks to come the protest taking place in our streets are going to die down. There will be that urge to return to normalcy but is normal acceptable? Our forefathers dreamed of a better tomorrow. We are living that tomorrow. Is this not the time to carve out a new today, today? We believe the “Pause” created by COVID-19 is a moment to reflect on what is really important and the kind of world we want to live in. Everyone can take part in this dialogue including you. 

We have taken the liberty of sharing resources to help you take construction action by exploring ways to get involved and be a part of progressive change that will benefit us all. 

• March In Peaceful Protest
  • There are peaceful protests happening all across this country and the  world. Below is a list of where local protest are taking place:

1. Protest Locations –
   1. New York City Barclays Center (Brooklyn)
   2. Brooklyn Bridge (Brooklyn)
   3. Cadman Plaza (Brooklyn)
   4. Grand Army Plaza (Brooklyn)
   5. Foley Square (Manhattan)
   6. Soho (Manhattan)
   7. Union Square (Manhattan)
   8. Time Square (Manhattan)
   9. 34th Street (Manhattan)
   10. Central Park (Manhattan)
   11. Washington Square (Manhattan)
   12. Fordham Road & Grand Course (Bronx)
   13. Fordham Road & Burnside Avenue (Bronx)
   14. East 148th & Third Avenue (Bronx)
   15. Queens Boulevard & 47th Street (Sunnyside, Queens)
   16. Queens Borough Hall (Queens)
   17. Queensbridge Park, Field # 2 (Queens)
   18. 196th Street & Union Turnpike (Queens)
   19. Main Street & Roosevelt (Queens)
   20. Queens County Supreme Court (Queens)
       
2. Protest Locations – New Jersey
   1. Teaneck: Bryant School to bottom of Cedar Lane
   2. Hoboken: Maxwell Place park
   3. Hasbrouck Heights: Hasbrouck Heights High School
   4. South River: Main Street in front of police station
   5. Asbury Park: Convention Hall to Asbury Park police station
   6. Englewood: Mackay Park
   7. Hackensack: Sears parking lot (Main St & Anderson St)
   8. Bergenfield: Bergenfield High School Track
   9. Sayreville: Borough Hall, 167 Main Street
   10. West Orange: Town Hall
   11. Plainsboro Township: 90 Grovers Mill Rd
   12. Trenton: Trenton City Hall
   13. Lakewood: Lakewood High School football field
   14. Galloway: 300 East Jimmie Leeds Road
   15. Morristown: Courthouse to Town Hall
   16. Newton: Newton Green
   17. Jersey City: City Hall, 280 Grove Street
   18. Elizabeth: Jefferson Park
   19. Nutley: Yanticaws Frank Cocchiola Playground
   20. Montclair: Unity walk at Montclair High School
   21. Mount Olive: Vigil at Turkey Brook Park
   22. Bayonne: Hudson County Park
   23. Jackson: Johnson Park

• Donate
  • There are several organizations devoted to fighting for legal and social justice for all. We cannot vouch for any of these organization. However, for your convenience we will list a few of them and encourage you to do your own research and make the choice best for you and your family. Below is of a few organizations accepting donations:
    • Black Lives Matter
    • GoFundMe
    • NAACP Legal Defense Fund
    • National Action Network
    • Know Your Rights Camp
    • ACLU
    • The Bail Project 38
    • Community Bail Fund
    • National Bail Fund Network 

• Volunteer & Support
  •  Donate Supplies: If you have the means and can safely do so,  consider picking up extra bottles of water, individually packaged foods, masks, hand sanitizer, diapers, baby food and other supplies ahead of protests in your area; distribute them to those marching.
  • Clean Up Crew: many local businesses have been destroyed by looters. Support them by being a part of the clean up crew. Volunteers will need masks, gloves, shovels, trash bags, brooms, water, googles and other supplies such as ladders, plywood, nails and electric drills or hammers.
  • Petitions: Follow this link to either text or electronically sign
    • Petitions demanding change: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

• Educate Yourself and Others
  • Change will never take place without understand and that comes  through education. Here  is a video that we hope can  shed light on the struggle for equality in America:
    • The Danger of The Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

• Continue or Start Healthy Habits
  • We are still in the midst of Coronavirus pandemic. Hence, we encourage all to continue practicing social distancing. If you already have healthy habits in place such as yoga or meditation, continue to do them. Do not let anxiety throw  you off track! Take this opportunity to grow and improve yourself as a person. Nurture your spiritual growth, work on eradicating your limiting beliefs/mindsets, if possible, volunteer for a cause you believe in. Be the change you want to see – the opportunities are endless.

Victor Hugo said, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” Today, we are reminded as Americans to “Hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Let us continue to come together and be our best for ourselves and the generations to come.