Penns Grove Police: What Happened To Protect & Serve

The persona of a police officer is to protect and serve the community. Some may often look to police officers as positive role models for children who inspire to be a law enforcement official one day. In today’s society that image seems to have disappeared. If you examine the community of Penns Grove, you will see that the residents’ perception of police has changed. The appreciations have changed in the people of the community. Many residents feel as I do, that there is a police chief that fails to bring accountability and responsibility to certain problematic officers. That issue within itself is toxic and psychologically creates great resentment.

After speaking with an inundated amount of residents, many believe that if Penns Grove had a progressive police chief like Philadelphia’s Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, community policing in Penns Grove would be different. Many residents have several complaints about certain officers and want some type of justice. Not all police officers are bad but you most definitely have to address the problematic officers so that the residents can have some type of relief.

Not long ago Penns Grove Borough Council passed a “saggy pants” ordinance because there were complaining community members that were tired of seeing young men undergarments. Well there is hope for the people. In order to get the police misconduct straightened out, the complaining constituents have to do the same thing the people with the issue of “saggy pants” done, which is “Complain” and sign “Complaints.” I am wondering when is the so-called “Police Committee” will take action to bridge the gap between police and community? There is no way an officer should stand on sidelines with children during the day then later on that night harass and berate the players’ family members and friends. So I say what the late activist, Fannie Lou Hamer said, "You can pray until you faint, but unless you get up and do something, God is not going to put it in your lap.”

Walter L. Hudson Sr.

Founder National Awareness Alliance

Penns Grove, NJ

Saggy Pants Law: Is It "Stop and Frisk" By Another Name?

We seem to be living in today’s society when we should be moving forward as a nation; we are moving backwards. Earlier this year the Supreme Court effectively struck down the heart of the Voter Rights Act of 1965; government officials across America are pushing for state voter ID legislation; New York Mayor is fighting to keep “Stop and Frisk” Law and now in the “small town politics” of Penns Grove, NJ, local government has legislated fashion. All in which that seem to target certain ethnic groups.

Dr. Martin Luther King said in his last prophetic “I been to the mountain top” speech in April of 1968, “The greatest right in America is to protest for rights.” So what happens when our rights are infringed upon? A few weeks ago, the Penns Grove City Council passed legislation on wearing “Saggy Pants.” I am in agreement that people should not walk around with their pants so low where you can see their undergarments. However, I do not believe legislation should not be implemented to remedy this “fad” which disproportionally target young African and Latino American men intrigued by the “hip-hop culture.”

Did the local government forget the Declaration of Independence, where it says, “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness?” The local government has taken away the “Inalienable and Fundamental” Rights granted to us all, by stripping people in the community the freedom of expression. Saggy pants is just a fad. Some fads look sillier than others; nonetheless, it is just a fad. For example, Run DMC, a 1980’s rap group wore their addidas shell top sneakers with no shoe laces; rapper LL Cool J, wore his pant legs with one side rolled up to his knee and the other side down. Yet it was “hip” or “cool” to that generation.   

After speaking with many members in the community; African American, Caucasian and Latino males, many feel the “Saggy Pant” ordinance is just another lawful means for certain problematic officers to make contact with the youth. One young man said, “What do they want us to do? It’s nothing here!” Penns Grove has greater issues to be championed. There are problems with guns, drugs, no jobs and educational issues that must be dealt with.

Saggy pants did not kill 3 young men lost from the community. Guns and drugs was the direct result. Saggy pants are not the reason why there is low test scores and high illiteracy rate among 2500 students. I think our local government should concern themselves with cultivating the poor socioeconomic ills of the community and not concerning themselves with what someone looks like. This is not a shot towards the city council. The objective is to influence a broader outlook before making a decision that can greatly affect someone. Parents should enforce what seems to be a parental issue not local government.

Walter L. Hudson Sr.

Founder/Chairman

National Awareness Alliance

Open Letter To Reverend Al Sharpton

Another Open Letter to Reverend Al Sharpton

Greetings Rev.

I am writing this open letter not for attention. The work that I am doing as a civil rights activist will speak for itself. I am writing this letter because I am fed up with your hypocrisy and your mistreatment of people who have supported you down through the years.  

 

 Three years ago, I came to you for help on a police brutality case involving Moshowon Leach, the young man in Penns Grove, New Jersey who was brutally killed by a police officer. You gave me your word that you would help me shed light on the case, but in the end of the day, you did nothing to support the cause. I guess it was not high profile enough for you.

 

Despite the public let down, I was a committed member of your National Action Network, traveling to Harlem every Saturday for nearly two years. I believed in your movement and wanted to be a part of the movement, particularly since you mentioned that you were looking for young leaders to step up and carry on the activism.

 

We attended several speaking engagements and events together and you publicly mentioned that I was your protégé. However, as I became more critical of your tactics and your approach, you further distanced yourself from me.

 

As you will recall, the NAN Voter ID tour was my idea and you even asked if I wanted to be a part of helping you organize during the 2012 election.  Later, you did not include me in any of the organizing efforts. Looking to become a leader in the fight for social justice, I volunteered to help organize in Sanford, Florida following the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, but neither you nor the staff of National Action Network provided me opportunity to utilize my skills to help bring attention to his tragic death.

 

On the morning after the George Zimmerman verdict, I called you offering to help mobilize the response and to remind you that young people should play a central role in organizing the public protests. Trayvon Martin is of my generation. During that heated phone discussion, you dismissed my concerns and claimed that “my ego will be my downfall.”

 

Reverend Sharpton, after my friend Moshowon Leach was killed by police, I was called to the civil rights and social justice movement by a higher power. How the hell can you call yourself a "Reverend" and shun God's people?

 

With all the turmoil you been involved in over the years, it’s critically important that those of us who know you and who have supported you, call you to task for your arrogance. As the scripture says, “How can you say you love a God that you have never seen but hate, talk bad about, shun, mislead the brother and sister you see every day!” John 4:20.

 

Growing up, I was in awe of you Reverend Sharpton. But now, you have become yet another celebrity who is uneasy with mingling with everyday people. When the rich and famous come to the House of Justice in Harlem, you escort them out the backdoor, not allowing your working class supporters—your core constituency—who were with you when the media attacked you for Tawana Brawley, to interface with them. Every Saturday, they give their last dollar to support your cause and movement. You are out of touch with the younger generation which is why they have largely abandoned National Action Network. The average age of the members who attend the rallies, are 50 and up.

 

I was deeply inspired by the open letter written by Chef Carl Redding and that prompted me to write one of my own. Like Chef Redding, I can’t sit idly by and allow you to continue to perpetuate a fraud on our people. To this end, I am calling for a National Boycott of your book when it comes out. You are doing a disservice to the legacy of Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and other civil rights leaders by engaging in a deal with Cash Money—the company that profits off of pushing negative images in our community.

 

While some people have fallen for your buffoonery, trickery and lies, I along with many former NAN members plan to picket your book signings. How can you sign a book deal with a company that you have condemned for their violent rap lyrics and disrespect toward women? Did you think that we were not watching? Nice try, but we gotcha!  

 

Sadly, many do not know of your relationship to Walmart, which has a history of unfair labor practices.  Rev, it is time for you to make your mind up!  No longer can you continue to play both side of the fence.

 

At a time when the black community has so many problems, I’m tired of the contradictions. As a 31-year-old leader who is fighting in the trenches every single day, I want more from my national leaders.

 

As Bob Marley put it, “You can fool some of the people some of the time but you can't fool all the people all of the time.” 

 

The charade, Reverend Sharpton, is over.  It’s time for you to come clean.

 

Walter Hudson, Sr.

President/Founder

National Awareness Alliance

 

Moment of Truth: Penns Grove School District A Burning House?

In the late 1960's, Dr. King had a unsettling discussion with actor/singer Harry Belafonte. Dr. King said to Harry Belafonte, "We've fought long for integration. It looks like we’re gonna get it. I think we’ll get the laws,” he says. “But I’m afraid that I've come upon something that I don’t know quite what to do with. I’m afraid that we’re integrating into a burning house." Fast forward to 2013, I have that same feeling when it comes to the Penns Grove Carneys Point School District. For the past two years, I have brought to light various inconsistencies within the school district. The issues of low test scores; 300 Black and Latino students of the middle school, three years behind in knowledge of math/science; lack of diversity hiring in the positions of teacher and administrators; 25% high school drop rate that triples the state average of four percent (4%), etc. I agree with Gov. Chris Christie's new tenure laws that will promote more accountability with teacher/administration in student achievement on failing school districts. 

My objectives is to ensure that all 2,500 students are receiving the best quality education along with having the best quality resources. In conjunction with the previous issues named, I also want to make sure all minorities receive a fair chance in the hiring process. Yet the superintendent of schools fails to address these issues after being in the district for 10 years. Statistics shows that in each category of student achievement, there has been a steadily decline for all 10 years under the superintendent's leadership. There is no "Human Resources Department." So I implemented the idea of a "Diversity Committee," to aide in the issue and promote more diversity hiring. The superintendent is the "Alpha and Omega," in terms of hiring. Under the leadership of the superintendent, the "Diversity Committee" turned out to be a mirage.

There continues to be no "Checks and Balances" by the Board President imposed on the bad judgement and poor decision making of the superintendent. What the community should realize is that there must be new and effective leadership put in place in the Penns Grove School District starting with superintendent and then school board. Come November is the "Moment of Truth." If new leadership is not voted on to advocate for a new superintendent to move the district forward, we will continue to send 2,500 students in a "Burning House."

Civil Rights Leader, Clergy to Meet with New Jersey Lawmakers to Discuss Gun Violence

Walter Hudson, the founder and chairman of the National Awareness Alliance, a civil rights organization based in New Jersey, will meet with State Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste Riley on Monday, January 7, 2013 at 10:45 a.m. to encourage them to support a bill sponsored by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak (D-Union) and co-sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner (D-Hunterdon and Mercer) to declare violence a public health crisis and establish a commission to study its causes.

The legislation comes in the wake of the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The bill urges the federal government to reinstate its ban on assault weapons and expand background checks to all gun sales and transfers.

“The time has come for us to take a stand against these senseless acts of violence,” says Hudson of Penns Grove. “We call on all lawmakers across the state to support this effort. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. This is about saving lives.”

Reverend Edward Dorn, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Pedricktown and Salaam Ismial, founder of the New Jersey Anti-Violence Coalition will also be in attendance.

Hudson pledged to meet with Senators Turner and Lesniak in the upcoming weeks and will seek a meeting with Governor Chris Christie to solicit his support for the legislation.

A press conference will be held at 12:30 p.m. outside of Senator Sweeney’s Trenton office.