DISCRIMINATION JUSTIFIED BY CONVENIENCE: THIS IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM
LATINO ACTION NETWORK SENDS POWERFUL MESSAGE!
One of the most insightful statements we have heard throughout this entire battle. "It has been stated that, while the actions of the Millville court bureaucracy may have been discriminatory, there was not bad intent behind the, it was merely an administrative convenience. If this is so, it is the very definition of institutional racism" - Cuqui Rivera, Latino Action Network (Press Conference, January 26)
One of the largest civil rights organizations in the State of New Jersey set forth a clear statement about the ongoing issues originally brought to public attention By Judge Witcher several months ago. While the media may not b willing to publish the entire statement, we will;
January 26, 2023
Good afternoon. My name is Cuqui Rivera and I am the Chari of the Criminal Justice Reform Committee and founding member of the Latino Action Network of NJ.
I am here today to represent the deep frustration of the New Jersey Latino community and others regarding the failure of the State Attorney General to make known what actions are being taken to end the ongoing discrimination against Latino and Latino-surnamed individuals scheduled to appear before the Millville Municipal Court. The automatic channeling of Latinos into mandatory personal appearances in court versus offering the option of a virtual appearance online was first identified by municipal court Judge Jason Witcher in October of last year and put on record by him in open court on December 5. He reiterated the charges in January, claiming the docket was still reflecting inequalities, three months after his initial revelations. A statement by a neighboring municipal court administrator temporarily assigned to Millville court confirmed that their scheduling is discriminatory against Latinos. This individual would have much experience with Latinos appearing in Bridgeton, which has a large Latino population. This, significant credit must be given to this testimony.
It has been stated that, while the actions of the Millville court bureaucracy may have been discriminatory, there was no bad intent behind them, it was merely an administrative convenience. If this is so, it is the very definition of institutional racism.
We are demanding today that the Attorney General immediately inform the community whether or not his department has undertaken the investigations LAN requested back in October: an investigation into the scheduling and investigation of the retaliation against Judge Witcher, which would seem to be a clear violation of the Whistleblower Act.
In addition, today we also call on Chief Justice Stuart Rabner to bring a retired judge to look into the actions and public statements of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) regarding this matter. The AOC initially remarked to the media, prematurely at the very beginning of its own investigation, that there was no discrimination against Latinos in the Millville court, despite evidence to the contrary revealed by Judge Witcher. The AOC then doubles down on their initial inappropriate remarks by stating more emphatically in a second statement that there's nothing there. AOC then has the audacity to warn the public not to draw any conclusions until their investigation is completed. "We encourage the public to wait until a full investigation has been completed before drawing any conclusions."
It is a practice in the criminal justice field not to comment on ongoing investigations. The AOC has advised the community to hold off on reaching conclusions until the investigation is complete, but they don't follow their own advice. At best, this could be a defensive tactic to "circle the wagons"; at worst it could be an attempt to dampen public concern and influence its own investigation.
The faith of Millville's and New Jersey's Latino communities in our judicial system has been profoundly shaken by this blatant discrimination, retaliation, and attempted cover-up. We must be immediately assured that this matter is being addressed at the highest levels.