In a
move aimed at ending systemic racism, the Burlington County Board of Chosen
Freeholders acted Wednesday to appoint the first 15 members of a new county
task force that will delve into social justice issues and make recommendations
on actions the county’s government can consider to promote equality and combat
discrimination.
The
brainchild of Freeholder Director Felicia Hopson, the Minority and Equality
Rights Task Force was formally created by the freeholders in June. The group is
charged with devising ways the county can combat systemic racism and support
equality for all, no matter race, color, gender, nationality, religion or
sexual orientation.
“Racism
exists, both here in Burlington County and across our state, nation, continent
and globe, and it demands action from all levels of government and all parts of
society,” said Freeholder Director Felicia Hopson. “We must act. And while
systemic racism will not be eliminated overnight, we cannot stand idly by and
trust others to solve the problem. Each of us has a role in this fight and it’s
our hope that the members of this task force will have a candid dialogue about
the issues that plague us and develop real, tangible actions for our county to
take.”
Wednesday’s
appointments were the first to the new group, which will have up to 25 members.
Members
of the task force come from all parts of the county and include representatives
from law enforcement, education, and other groups with interests within
Burlington County.
Malikah
Morris, the county’s Division Director of Community Outreach and Special Projects, will
chair the group, and Hopson will also serve as a member. The other members
appointed Wednesday were:
- Burlington City Police Chief John Fine
- Marcus Sibley of the Southern Burlington County NAACP
- Gregory Mayers, coordinator of Virtua’s community health portfolio
- Shirla Simpson, Burlington County’s director of Human Services
- Moorestown Mayor Nicole Gillespie
- Agatha Reidy, the Burlington County Health Department’s director of nursing
- Jarrod Broadway, Burlington Township police officer and Burlington County Crisis Intervention Team coordinator
- Willingboro Township Manager Sharon Rogers
- Darvis Holley; assistant principal at Helen Fort Middle School in Pemberton Township
- Miguel Williams, Mount Holly resident and program coordinator for Partners For Kids and Families
- Craig Parker, Lumberton resident and longtime basketball coach
- Boaz Matlack, Medford resident and community activist
- McKenna Samson, Mount Laurel resident and community activist
In
addition to the task force appointments, the freeholders unanimously approved a
resolution endorsing state legislation that would require counties to change
the title of “Freeholder” and “Board of Chosen Freeholders” to “County
Commissioner” and “Board of County Commissioners.”
Freeholder
is an Old English term dating back to before the American Revolution to denote
a person who owns land and is free of debt, which was a requirement to hold
public office. At the time, only white men could own property and serve. The
title is now used solely in New Jersey for those elected to county governing
bodies.
The
freeholders’ resolution formally endorses the name change as a “corrective
action to replace an outdated term” and that the new name reflects the state’s
“diversity and inclusiveness.”
Hopson,
who was one of the first county leaders to publicly support the change, said it
was long past time for the term freeholder to be retired.
“The
name is confusing to scores of residents who have no idea what a freeholder is
and what level of government they represent, and its use is also a disturbing
call back to an age when racism was an accepted institution,” Director Hopson
said Wednesday.
The
state legislation requiring the change was approved by the New Jersey
Legislature on June 30 and Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign the measure
into law before the end of the month.
Hopson,
who was one of the first county leaders to voice support for the change,
revealed that the county’s staff is already preparing for the switch.
“We have re-designed our county seal to reflect the expected change and we’re also ready to update our county’s website and other communications,” she said. “Racism in any form or from any era is unacceptable, so I am looking forward to the day when I am called ‘commissioner’ instead of ‘freeholder.’”