About RCENJC

RCENJC was founded in 2012, in the wake of overwhelming evidence that state- sanctioned racism, in the form of epidemic levels of mass incarceration, was destroying black and other communities of color. The New Jim Crow refers to a criminal justice system that is racially discriminatory, arresting and convicting Black and Latino individuals at a rate higher, and sentencing them longer, than white Individuals for comparable crimes.

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Our group was created by activists who, after reading Michelle Alexander’s eye-opening book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, decided to take this book to a wider audience. We conducted community and small group readings and discussions. But we did not stop there. We are not a book group, though we strongly believe in reading and studying together in order to educate and arm ourselves about various issues and to speak with one voice. Learning together unifies us. Wise activists are not stagnant, but believe in learning, growing, and improving.  Alexander’s book was a catalyst and an igniting force as well as an organizing tool for our actions. We are a movement-based organization so our work has been primarily through advocacy and direct action.  

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Most importantly, RCENJC is a coalition, which means that we work with other groups. We are anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-homophobic. Many of our members also belong to other organizations so we welcome partnerships with allied organizations when the need arises. We believe that the fight for racial and economic justice takes many forms and requires as many activists as possible. No one group or person should have authority over who is qualified to fight oppression. Identity politics has its place, but it can be divisive and needs to take a back seat in order for us to win. On a human level, we are more alike than different.  Although the different groups might have different approaches on how to fight for our rights, we feel we have similar goals and that those shared goals should unite us.

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As a coalition of individuals from all walks of life, beliefs, and political persuasions, our members have worked in solidarity with other organizations to demonstrate support of Planned Parenthood, BLM, and immigrants, as well as against police brutality, climate change and the Muslim Ban in NYC, Nyack, SV, New Paltz, Kingston, Poughkeepsie, and other parts of the Hudson Valley. As MLK so astutely said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  Therefore, we stand with those who are oppressed and marginalized by society. We stand with organizations that fight against racism, poverty, exploitation and oppression. We recognize that the New Jim Crow in all its manifestations results in inequality and draw strength and solidarity from organizations that share our vision for social and economic justice. 

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Many still ask why we frequently focus on people of color. We welcome all. We are most proud that the demonstrations and other activities that RCENJC has organized over the years have always been attended by people from all sectors Rockland County and that they have represented solidarity and diversity.  RCENJC centers its activities in SV because it has the largest concentration of people of color in the County and because it is the place where the greatest impact of racial oppression is felt, including a disproportionate percent of formerly incarcerated people. We go into communities of color, not to organize people of color, but to show solidarity and our mutual opposition to racism.  Our group is very diverse and SV is very diverse. 

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It is only when all people – Asian, Black, Latino, Native, and White - join together in struggle, that they truly learn to work together, respect each other, and develop the strength and confidence to go on to fight future struggles in solidarity.