LEADING NEW YORK CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS CALL ON LEADER SCHUMER TO PASS THE EQUAL ACT IN THE NDAA
Bipartisan Legislation Would End Racially Unjust Cocaine Sentencing Disparity
NAACP New York Conference, Make the Road NY, Innocence Project, FAMM, Dream.Org, Justice Action Network, and more Sign Onto Letter Urging Senator Schumer to Continue Pushing for EQUAL Act
(NEW YORK, NY)– Today, leading New York civil rights and criminal justice organizations sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urging him to keep the EQUAL Act in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is now being negotiated in the Senate. The House of Representatives has already included the EQUAL Act in its version of the NDAA, passed in July. Along with support from criminal justice, civil rights, and conservative groups, the EQUAL Act is strongly supported by public safety and law enforcement voices, including the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the National District Attorneys Association.
Today’s letter was signed by Beautiful Heart Ministries, Bronx Defenders, Center for Community Alternatives, Citizen Action – NY, Dream.Org, Drug Policy Alliance, FAMM, Incarcerated Nation Network, Inc., Innocence Project, Data Collaborative for Justice at John Jay College, Justice Action Network, Ladies of Hope Ministries, Inc., Legal Aid, Make the Road NY, NAACP New York Conference, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, REFORM Alliance, Vera Institute of Justice, and Youth Represent.
Inimai Chettiar, Federal Director of Justice Action Network, the country’s largest organization dedicated to bipartisan criminal justice reform, made the following statement regarding the letter:
“Civil rights leaders from across New York’s most diverse communities are speaking with one voice to let Senator Schumer know that there is overwhelming support for the EQUAL Act, and that we urge him to keep this critical provision in the NDAA. As a New Yorker, I am grateful that our Senator, the Majority Leader, has been such a steadfast advocate of reforms that promote both safety and justice. He is a cosponsor of the EQUAL Act - and when it passes, he will be a major reason why.”
Janos Marton, National Justice Director at Dream.Org, added:
"After relentless advocacy from our bipartisan coalition, faith leaders, law enforcement, formerly incarcerated leaders, and New York's leading civil rights organizations, the EQUAL Act is close to crossing the finish line. The time has come to reverse one of the drug war's most destructive policies, and we call on Senate Majority Leader Schumer to work with Democratic and Republican sponsors to put the freedom of 8,000 people over the procedural objections of this bill's opponents."
The EQUAL Act is a critical criminal justice reform measure that would finally and fully eliminate the racially unjust federal sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses. One of the worst vestiges of the failed War on Drugs, this disparity has devastated Black and poor communities in New York and across the country, and decreased trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Last year, the EQUAL Act passed the House of Representatives by a resounding 361-66 vote, demonstrating broad, bipartisan support from members of the Freedom Caucus to the Progressive Caucus. Led in the Senate by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL), the EQUAL Act is co-sponsored by Majority Leader Schumer and Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Rand Paul (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chis Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Richard Burr (R-NC), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Ed Markey (D-MA). Additionally, the EQUAL Act has support from law enforcement groups, civil rights organizations, religious groups, and those whom the unjust sentencing disparity has directly impacted.