In the wake of deadly incidents involving the police, a group of anti-violence activists and organizers gathered on Friday to promote the role of community-based public safety as an effective tool in combating violence and crime.
The group known as the New Jersey Violence Intervention and Prevention Statewide Coalition joined with leaders in Trenton to examine and discuss the model that removes law enforcement from responding to certain crises. The meeting came on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Paterson police shooting of Najee Seabrooks during a mental health call.
Said William Simpson of Equal Justice USA: “While we experienced the strides, we still got a way to go. We’re not unreasonable people…We commend the [Murphy] administration for ensuring that the investments have been made into programs. But let’s be clear this is done because they understand what we understand — that these programs work.”
